Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi and National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula have hatched a fresh plot to maintain a grip on Western region politics against an onslaught from President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Mudavadi, who is associated with Amani National Congress (ANC), and Wetang’ula, who leads the Ford Kenya party, have now ganged up against President Ruto’s UDA that is keen on painting the region yellow.
In a bid to bolster their influence in the region with close to 2.2 million votes, Mr Mudavadi has been reaching out to legislators from the area, including those from Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
In the August 9 elections, out of the 30 constituencies spread across Trans Nzoia, Kakamega, Vihiga, Bungoma and Busia counties, Mr Odinga’s ODM had the highest number of MPs from the region at 15.
Dr Ruto’s UDA had six, Ford Kenya, ANC and DAP-K five each, Jubilee one and one independent MP.
The December 8 Bungoma senatorial by-election has given Mudavadi and Wetang’ula an opportunity to face off with Dr Ruto’s UDA under Kenya Kwanza Alliance, as they seek to stamp their authority in the region.
ANC and Ford Kenya have already ganged up against the President’s party, with ANC backing the Ford Kenya candidate Wafula Wakoli against UDA’s Mwambu Mabonga, the former Bumula MP.
Mr Odinga’s Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition is backing former Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi of Democratic Action Party-Kenya (DAP-K).
Yesterday, ANC Secretary-General Simon Gikuru told Nation that the party stands with Mr Wetang’ula’s Ford Kenya in the by-election.
“We have found it decent and good manners to leave it to Wetang’ula’s team (Ford Kenya) to defend their seat,” Gikuru said.
