The supremacy battles in Western is escalating division among leaders in terms of political stand ahead of Bukhungu meeting which is to be held on Friday at Bukhungu stadium.
The decision to invite Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga as a chief guest for the Bukhungu meeting in Kakamega and Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi as an ordinary guest has raised speculation.
According to ANC members, their leader, Mudavadi had not been consulted for the planned meeting with Senator Cleophas Malala vowing to scuttle plans for the Bukhungu meeting.
“Kakamega is my bedroom. I want to tell them that unless they get a permit from Musalia, let them not step to Kakamega on December 31…I want to officially say that there will be no meeting at Bukhungu stadium on the 31,” Malala said.
Malala remarks prompted the National Cohesion and Integration Commission chairperson Samuel Kobia summon him.
“We have today (Monday) summoned Senator Cleophas Malala to answer for his regrettable and unwarranted statements that allegedly meant to lock out a political candidate from holding a meeting at Bukhungu stadium in Kakamega slated for December 31, 2021,” Kobia said.
Malala claimed that some of the political brokers have planned meeting to endorse Orange Democratic Movement leader Raila Odinga as the preferred presidential candidate for the 2022 general elections.
The Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli said that the Bukhungu II meeting brings together ALL progressive leaders and locals from the 5 counties in the region.
“You are a junior Senator who has neither the capacity to speak on behalf of the Luhya community nor the ability to call on and off such a meeting,” Atwoli said.
It is expected that Atwoli will, on Friday, rally the Luhya community behind Raila Odinga ahead of the 2022 presidential election.
Raila has confirmed he will attend the Friday meeting.
