Former Sports Cabinet Secretary Rashid Echesa has warned Amani National Congress leader Musalia Mudavadi over dominance in Western Kenya region, arguing that his support is not guaranteed.
For the last few months, Echesa has been rooting for unity in Western Kenya, arguing that the region may struggle nationally if it cannot speak in one voice.
And in an interview with Sunday Nation, Echesa, who has developed a cold feet towards supporting Dr William Ruto's presidency, paid tribute to the ODM leader Raila Odinga, arguing that he's still very popular in Western Kenya.
"At the start of the presidential race and before factoring external support, Musalia has four counties in his basket, remember all this is not guaranteed given Tinga’s influence; yet the DP has 14 from his backyard," he said.
“We must rethink our whole approach to national politics. It is not right for our people to be setup against each other. Our leaders have in the past been used and this is something we must avoid if we are to be taken seriously,” he said.
But last weekend, Mr Mudavadi said his 2022 Presidential bid is unstoppable, adding that he had already back Mr Odinga in a number of occasions.
“I did it deliberately because I did not want Raila or anyone else to blame me for not supporting them,” said Mudavadi.
“I backed former President Daniel arap Moi, Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga before, the debt is over and 2022 is my turn,” said Mudavadi as quoted by the Standard.
For the last three presidential elections, Mr Odinga has comfortably won Western region. Mr Echesa was ODM Youth League Leader before joining Jubilee party.