Political strategies and counter strategies during the recent BBI rally in Kakamega successfully worked against some perceived political kingpins from Western region, faced by clamour for political realignment ahead of 2022 general elections.
Boardroom calculations at Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga’s camp against William Ruto camp and subsequent drama at the Bukhungu rally left a trail of what is seen as winners and losers of the event.
Weekly Citizen has established that Raila, in his usual political tactics advised Uhuru to prevail upon both ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi and his Ford-Kenya counterpart Moses Wetangula to avoid attending a parallel meeting in Mumias and join BBI brigades in Buhkungu. Also involved was Cotu secretary general Francis Atwoli who is one of key proponents of BBI. ANC deputy leader Ayub Savula another backer of BBI had warned Mudavadi to read the political signs of the day in Uhuru succession.
Omulele
The duo fashioning themselves as the Western region political power houses were expected to lead a parallel meeting in Mumias, sponsored by Ruto but changed mind at the eleventh hour after Uhuru phone call which came after police had outlawed the event.
According to insiders, Raila strategy to bring Mudavadi and Wetangula through Uhuru was aimed at portraying a solid Luhya unity behind the BBI as well as disorganising Tanga Tanga team.
The fact that the two leaders were later warmly welcomed at Bukhungu was due to the fact, locals were happy the duo had abandoned TangaTanga in favour of a popular initiative.
Ruto is seemingly not amused by the poor performance and outright betrayal exhibited by Western leaders despite allegations that he pumped in a whopping Sh20m purportedly delivered through Faruk Kibet to cater for mobilisation and other logistics.
Ruto camp was perturbed to see Mudavadi and Wetangula make entry into Buhkungu stadium where Raila was leading the BBI brigades while they were expected to be on the forefront in a faceoff with anti-riot police at the outlawed rally in Mumias.
Barasa
Former Kakamega senator, Boni Khalwale was left a lone ranger in the running battle with anti-riot police after Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali mysteriously went into hiding on the eve of the meeting, to avoid police dragnet. Others say, Washali gameplan is to keep the majority leader slot in parliament that anti-Ruto forces want him removed because of being partisan.
However observers are quick to point that the outcome of the Bukhungu event boosted the political image of Raila as well as that of Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya.Another beneficiary was Atwoli who hosted visitors to the event at his Khwisero home among them nominated MP Maina Kamanda.
The event was treated as the first major political assignment from Raila to Oparanya and according to analysts, he delivered successfully. Oparanya was mandated to coordinate bringing on board governors Wilber Otichillo, Wycliffe Wangamati and Sospeter Ojaamong. Wangamati of late has been recruited in Raila camp to fight Wetangula in Bungoma politics.
Savula
Raila managed to attract a huge crowd despite prior castigation and propaganda from Ruto allies who advised their supporters to stay away from the meeting which according to them, was meant to install Oparanya as the new Luhya kingpin.
However the kind of response demonstrated that Raila still enjoys support base in the region.
Those close to the Kakamega governor say that the outcome of the meeting has left him walking tall.
Analysts are of the opinion that the rally helped Oparanya develope his grassroots network in the region and the fact that he introduced and spoke immediately before Raila, was a politically pregnant point to support the argument.
Previously, during Nasa coalition days it was Mudavadi who used to introduce Raila in such event but what transpired at the Bukhungu is a clear show that roles have changed and Oparanya is likely to be one of the key leaders in BBI by virtue of his position as the chairman of Council of Governors.
Waluke
Also seen to be a winner in the meeting is Atwoli who organised a colourful mobilisation despite intensified propaganda to the effect that he had planned to hijack the gathering and install Oparanya as the new regional kingpin.
Sources indicate that Atwoli played a pivotal role in ensuring that the organisers of the Mumias meeting experienced division within their ranks and this climaxed when Mudavadi and Wetangula ironically disowned the Mumias rally.
Collapse of the Mumias meeting was seen as a major victory for Atwoli and demonstrated the kind of respect he commands across the region.
When he took to the podium, the crowd keenly listened to him and was wildly applauded throughout even as he openly fired salvos directed at Mudavadi and Wetangula.
Atwoli dismissed rumours that he had intended to use the occasion to install anyone but instead promised to convene a Buhkungu 2 in December to announce a result of a survey for MPs, governors, senators and general Luhya leadership.
Tellingly, a group of youthful leaders from the region are laughing all the way to the bank having cultivated bountifully from the BBI Kakamega chapter.
The team led by Kakamega senator Cleophas Malala and nominated mp Geoffrey Osotsi were instrumental in mobilising people for the rally and have consistently supported handshake and BBI process.
Others in the team are Busia women representative Florence Mutua, Caleb Amisi (Saboti), and ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna.
They remained firm to promote handshake in the region at a time leaders had shunned off and sponsored propaganda discrediting the new found working relationship between Uhuru and Raila.
Their feelings, aspirations and message at Bukhungu were best articulated by Osotsi when he revealed that his differences with Mudavadi culminated into the unfortunate attempts to expel him from the ANC party.
The nominated MP noted that his support for the handshake had only deepened the bad blood between him and his party boss.
His experience is strikingly similar to that of Malala who has endured a lot of threats, intimidation and eventual attempts to expel him from the party after he opted for a consistent support for the handshake and BBI.
Oparanya
Notably Osotsi was the only MP from Vihiga who was accorded an opportunity to address the charged crowd and the move certainly sent panic among politicians in Vihiga county given that he is yet to declare interest in any political seat ahead of 2022 elections.Alfred Agoi (Sabatia), Ernest Kivai (Vihiga), Omboko Milemba (Emuhaya) and Chris Omulele (Luanda) are legislators from Vihiga county.The other Hamisi MP Charles Gemose was in Mumias and is DP keypointman in the area together with former governor Moses Akaranga. Akaranga camp is linking his recent summons at Directorate of Criminal Investigations on craft matters to backing Ruto 2022 presidency. Senator George Khaniri addressed the Bukhungu meeting.
Malala on the other hand has strengthened his bid for governorship following his colourful mobilisation of the Bukhungu event that now puts him above his opponents in the Kakamega gubernatorial race.
Senator Mutua also used the opportunity to enhance her stake to become the next Busia governor based on the huge crowd she mobilised from Busia and the fact that she was considered to speak on behalf of the women at the event.
In the eyes of Luhyas, the team of youthful and vibrant leaders has given new hope to the community especially now that the confidence level on Mudavadi and Wetangula has drastically gone down characterised by insincerity and lack of visionary leadership.
Mudavadi
Apart from Ruto, other glaring losers in the Bukhungu rally are former Kakamega senator Bonny Khawale, Didmus Barasa (Kimilili), Sakwa Bunyasi (Nambale) and Benjamin Washiali (Mumias) and Gemose. Justus Murunga (Mumias West), Emmanuel Wangwe (Navakholo), Tindi Mwale (Khwisero). Titus Khamala (Lurambi), John Waluke (Sirisia)are other casualities. The casualities are said to have gone backti the drawing board upon discovery, the war against Ruto fully enjoys state backing.
The mere fact that this group had organised a rally to counter BBI, which never happened due to cancellation by the state and disporganisation within their camp and involvement of DP in planning left them with an egg on their faces.
Though Mudavadi and Wetangula had realised that the state had cancelled the meeting, the two leaders were at pains in their attempts to distance themselves from the meeting yet some of their MPs were present during press conference at Serena Hotel and subsequent press conferences prior to the function.
Even the statement was read by Bunyasi who is a close confidant of Mudavadi and known not to say anything on the ANC party position without consulation with Mudavadi.
Bunyasi
In the meantime it has emerged that Mudavadi disowned Mumias meeting after receiving threatening calls from the State House to the effect that they were going to be arrested should they have proceed with the plans.
The issue of associating with Tanga Tanga did not also augur well with the two leaders who seemingly feared being tagged TangaTanga when it became apparent to the voters that the chief financier of the meeting was DP Ruto.
Resistance from the farmers from the sugar belt area who had also applied for a licence to organise a parallel demonstration in Mumias partly made them to chicken out of the plan.
The farmers’ demonstration was on the basis that the same leaders were part of the mess of Mumias Sugar Company and by them coming to talk about reviving the company would have amounted to dancing on the graves of farmers who have been languishing in poverty.
Observers have pointed that the sudden decision by Mudavadi to avoid Mumias meeting and joined Bukhungu did not add any political capital to them.
Ojaamong
Instead majority of their supporters have now branded them traitors and cowards in a move that helped organisers of the Bukhungu meeting create a notion that the entire Western is united in BBI.
Mudavadi is now seen to be in a delicate political situation given that their perceived newfound friends in Tanga Tanga are not comfortable with them as a result of pure betrayal witnessed during the Mumias and BBI meeting.
Atwoli challenged ANC party leader and his Ford-Kenya counterpart to break their political parties and form one formidable party to prove their political unity.
Analysts say that if the community can have one strong party, accommodating all voters it will help the community to bargain nationally on equal terms. If the unified party dream is achieved, it will definitely lock out other parties from making inroads in the region on grounds that the zone has one following politically. In Luo Nyanza, ODM has managed to control events by being a major party in the region with insurmountable force.
Raila and Florence Mutua
While addressing a well attended Bukhungu BBI rally in which Mudavadi and Wetang’ula were present, Atwoli said the two should prove their unity by breaking their parties.
“I’m challenging Musalia Mudavadi with Moses Wetang’ula to break their parties and form one formidable party to prove their political unity,” said Atwoli amid thunderous applause from the crowd.
Atwoli cautioned Mudavadi against playing isolated politics saying he will not manage. He said Mudavadi should join hands with other political leaders who will help him strongly and have high bargaining powers.
“You cannot fix the country’s economy while isolated from other political leaders. You must be in the team of other leaders for you to succeed,” cautioned Atwoli.
Atwoli also insisted on the holding Bukhungu Two Declaration next year where a Luhya political kingpin-cum-spokesman will be unveiled.
He said he will hire the service of university students to carry out proper research on who should be the Luhya political kingpin.
“We will hold Bukhungu Two Declaration next year where we shall unveil our Luhya political kingpin and spokesman as we plan for 2022. We shall hire the services on university students to conduct the research where our people in the constituencies will be able to give their input,” said Atwoli.
Atwoli’s sentiments were well received by Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya who said they will come back at Bukhungu for politics. Fear has been that Atwoli plans to anoint Oparanya as the community kingpin.
“Today is the day of BBI but we will be back here in Bukhungu for politics,” said Oparanya.
Khalwale
Mudavadi and Wetang’ula in their response said they will not allow other people to decide for them. They said Luhyas should just be left to decide on their political direction.
It is important to note that in 2016, Mudavadi was crowned as the Luhya community spokesperson-cum-political kingpin, something that elicited a heated debate, with a section of leaders saying they were not consulted. Oparanya was ranked number two to Mudavadi. However, others say that Wetang’ula, the Bungoma senator comes number two to Mudavadi.
