COTU secretary Francis Atwoli has insisted that the planned mega rally that has been scheduled for January 18 at Kakamega will take place as earlier on announced by Kakamega County Governor Wycliffe Oparanya.
Atwoli dismissed claims that had been made by Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula that the meeting was aimed at selecting a presidential candidate that will represent the region in the 2022 general elections.
Reports from the media indicate that Atwoli clarified that the objective of the meeting was to support the recommendation of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) report.
"...leaders from the Western region that the planned meeting that will take place on 18th at Bukhungu Kakamega this month is not aimed at searching for the leader of the Luhya community politically. Leader ae thee. Our political resolution will be in December 2021. That is when we shall have Bukhungu 2 in Kakamega(..viongozi wa mkoa wa magharibi, yakwamba ule mkutano ambao utakaofanywa tarehe 18 kule Bukhungu Kakamega mwezi huu sio mkutano wa kumtafuta kiongozi wa kibaluhya kisiasa. Viongozi wako. Sisi resolution yetu ya kisiasa utakuwa mwaka wa 2021 Mwezi wa Disemba. Hiyo ndio itakuwa na Bukhungu 2 katika Kakamega)," Atwoli stated.
Amani National Congress (ANC) and Moses Wetangula both of whom are influential in the Westen region failed to attend a meeting of leaders from the region that was held at Atwoli's home.