Former Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa has declared his readiness to join former Deputy Vice President Musalia Mudavadi's Amani National Congress (ANC) party.
Speaking during a funeral ceremony in Mwikali, Mumias East on Saturday, Echesa who is associated with the ruling Jubilee Party, said that he is willing to join the party for the sake of the Luhya unity.
Echesa said that he will join the party and the leader on a condition that Mudavadi takes charge as the Western Kenya leader, and begin working towards bettering his presidential chances in the 2022 general polls.
He said that the community has for long backed outsiders, and there is need for him (Mudavadi) to ensure that its the others who support a person from Western Kenya come 2022.
“People are taking advantage of Mr Mudavadi's politeness to undermine the Luhya community. But they need to understand that there are other leaders in Luhya land who can give direction.
"We are asking our elder brother, [Mr] Mudavadi to stamp his authority and command the community knowing that we are behind him,” he was quoted by the Nation.
He challenged the former Vice President to bring all Luhya leaders to the center, considering that they are scattered across the leading political blocks, and lead them into baking one of their own in 2022.
He said that he will give his all towards propelling Mudavadi to the presidency, on a condition that he stands up and starts preparing himself for the main race.
"I am ready to do anything to ensure a Luhya ascends to power. But this can only be possible if [Mr] Mudavadi moves out of the comfort zone to get the support of other communities,” he added.