Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader Musalia Mudavadi at a past event. [Photo/update.co.ke]
NASA Co-principal Musalia Mudavadi's 2022 presidential bid could suffer major blow if leaders from his Western backyard keep good their threats not to support him.
The politicians accuse the Amani National Congress leader of planning the humiliation of Water Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa during a cultural festival in Mbale.
A rowdy crowd forced out Wamalwa during the annual Logooli cultural festival in Vihiga County last week.
The leaders claim the incident could fuel bad blood between the Bukusu, where Wamalwa comes from and Mudavadi’s Maragoli sub-tribe.
Speaking to The Standard on Sunday, the politicians led by Sirisia MP John Waluke demanded that Mudavadi issues an official apology to Wamalwa.
"Unless Mudavadi apologises he should forget Bukusu votes and recognition as a Luhya leader and shall henceforth be treated as a mere Maragoli leader," Waluke said.
Trans Nzoia Women Representative Janet Nangabo condemned the incident, saying the former Vice President risk being abandoned by the Luhyas for trying to divide the community along sub-tribal lines.
"We are demanding that Mudavadi personally offers an official apology to the CS and entire Mulembe nation. The fact that everybody else was welcomed to the event including our Luo neighbours and we could chase away our Bukusu brothers who are our fellow Luhyas is totally disturbing and unacceptable," she said.
Other leaders who have expressed similar sentiments include Vihiga Governor Wilburforce Ottichilo, Mwambu Mabonga, Yusuf Chanzu and Bifwoli Wakoli.