The political battle pitting Azimio la Umoja leader Raila Odinga against One Kenya Alliance (OKA) co-principal Musalia Mudavadi is expected to take centre-stage at the much-hyped Bukhungu stadium rally.
Dubbed 'Bukhungu II Convention', the rally organised by Central Organisation of Trade Unions (Cotu) boss Francis Atwoli has been the subject of immense controversy in Western Kenya politics.
According to its organisers, the rally that will be held today is expected to chart a new political direction for the Luhya community ahead of the August 9, 2022 General Election.
Mr Atwoli said the focus of the meeting will be unity of purpose for the Luhya community and urged leaders from the region to attend the event.
“I have in the past organised meetings for some of the leaders who are now opposed to the Bukhungu II rally using my own money. That’s when I was their good boy. If you know you are a popular leader, you have no reason to get worried about the meeting. Just attend,” said Mr Atwoli.
During the meeting, Mr Atwoli is expected to unveil a new spokesman for the Luhya community to replace Mr Mudavadi.
The conveners of the rally have accused Mr Mudavadi, who was crowned the Luhya political kingpin on December 31, 2016, of failing to unite the community.
Those expected to attend include Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa, the governors of Kakamega, Vihiga, Busia, Bungoma and Trans Nzoia counties as well as key politicians allied to the Azimio la Umoja Movement.
But Mr Mudavadi, Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula and their OKA allies have dismissed the event as a ploy by the Cotu boss to rally Western Kenya behind Mr Odinga’s presidential bid.
The Amani National Congress (ANC) leader, who has ruled out working with Mr Odinga ahead of the next polls, has insisted that Kenyans should be left to vote in leaders of their own choice.
Mr Mudavadi is expected to skip the Bukhungu rally and join Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala for the finals of the Cleo Malala Super Cup at the Mumias Sports Complex, 30 kilometres away.
“We are set for the big day. We expect Bukhungu stadium to be fully packed. We have invited all Luhyas leaders to attend. This is a Luhya meeting and not an Atwoli meeting,” Mr Atwoli told Nation.Africa.
Kakamega County Police Commander Hassan Barua said adequate security had been provided for the Bukhungu meeting and the football match in Mumias town.
“People are free to attend a meeting of their choice. There should be no cause for panic since adequate security arrangements have been put in place to ensure the meeting proceeds peacefully,” said Mr Barua.
MPs allied to Mr Odinga said they would use the meeting to pick Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya as the new Western kingpin.
Budalang'i MP Raphael Wanjala, Justus Kizito (Shinyalu) Nominated Senator Naomi Shiyonga and Kakamega County Woman Representative Elsie Muhanda said they would push for Governor Oparanya to be unveiled as the region's spokesperson.
Governor Oparanya said that for the Western region to be in the next government, residents must rally behind Mr Odinga, who has been rated the frontrunner in the 2022 presidential race.
“The next presidential contest is between Deputy President William Ruto and former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. As the people of Western, we are supporting Mr Odinga and we are sure of being in the next government,” he said.
"I don't want anybody from Kakamega and the entire Western region to be left out of the incoming government. Mr Odinga will form the next government and we must be part of it as partners, not followers," Mr Oparanya said at Navakholo Primary School.
He asked residents to turn up in large numbers for the Bukhungu meeting, saying it will offer political direction to the community.
Explaining his decision to attend a parallel event in Mumias, Mr Mudavadi said: “To lead a country that has the youth as the majority, one must support and work with youthful leaders. That is why on December 31, I will be at Mumias Sports Complex to support the Cleo Malala Super Cup.”
He said the ‘Mulembe Nation’ has been taken for granted despite being selfless and generous to other people seeking their support during political campaigns.
“Some of those we have supported think we are a ladder they can use and dump after they have reaped the fruits. This time, we say enough is enough,” he said.
It is not clear whether Kanu and Wiper leaders Gideon Moi and Kalonzo Musyoka, who are also co-principals in OKA, will attend the football event in Mumias.
Mr Wamalwa and DAP-Kenya leader Wafula Wamunyinyi have pitched camp in the region and have been leading a series of meetings to urge residents to attend the Bukhungu convention.
“We shall all convene at the Bukhungu stadium as Luhyas and people of Western region for the Azimio la Umoja meeting, where we shall chart the political path for our region going forward. Anyone who will skip the meeting will have indicated that he or she does not have the interests of our people at heart,” said Mr Wamunyinyi in Malava Sub-county.
Mr Wamalwa has appealed to Mr Mudavadi and Wetang’ula to attend the Bukhungu II meeting ‘for the sake of the Luhya unity’.
“We are set to benefit a lot and get respected if we move together as people of Mulembe nation. But when each one of us goes his way, we lose a lot and remain disintegrated and a laughing stock,” Mr Wamalwa said.
“Let Malala be warned that Kakamega town is not his bedroom. All of us have equal rights to come and meet people within the town without seeking permission from anyone,” said Mr Wamalwa.
Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa on the other hand asked residents of Western to ignore the Bukhungu rally, terming it a ploy to divide the community.
"I beseech the Luhya nation to ignore the meeting being convened by Mzee Atwoli at Bukhungu stadium on December 31, 2021," he said.
Former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale dismissed the rally and said similar events convened by the Cotu boss had failed to unite the Luhya community.
"On December 31, 2016, Mr Atwoli assembled the people of Western at the same venue and enthroned Mudavadi to a non-existent position dubbed the Luhya kingpin. Mr Mudavadi failed in the mandate and his endorsement ended up in futility,” said Dr Khalwale.
