President Uhuru Kenyatta during a campaign event in Bungoma. [Photo/ PSCU]
Do not believe anyone who tells you that Western Kenya is a stronghold of the National Super Alliance (NASA) coalition. The region, made up of Bungoma, Vihiga, Busia, Kakamega, and Trans Nzoia counties, is a battleground between the Jubilee Party and Raila Odinga’s NASA. A number of influential Lughya leaders from the region are supporting the re-election of President Uhuru Kenyatta and have given reasons why they cannot endorse Raila for the top job. Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka, former cabinet minister Musikali Kombo, Water cabinet secretary Eugene Wamalwa, ex-ODM secretary general and Budalangi MP Ababu Namwamba are some of the key Luhya leaders who have vehemently opposed the candidature of Raila, who they accuse of perpetrating many injustices against the people of 'Mulembe'. During a recent visit to the region, President Uhuru Kenyatta was very well received by the people, forcing ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi and Raila Odinga to make a tour that was not scheduled to try and pour water on the gains that the Jubilee administration officials had made. One of the reasons why key Western leaders have rejected Raila is because he is seen as only using the Luhya people in his quest to lead the country. In the current NASA line-up, the highest leader from Western is a mere campaign manager — former presidential candidate Musalia Mudavadi, who many feel deserved to be the coalition’s flag-bearer. Veteran politician Musikali Kombo has accused Raila of betraying the Luhya community by blocking former vice president Kijana Wamalwa from becoming the head of state in 1997. “Raila fought Wamalwa and moved out of Ford Kenya and formed the National Democratic Party, which merged with Kanu when Wamalwa was seeking the presidency in 1997,” said Kombo, as quoted by the Star.“What Raila did to our son is still fresh in our minds, and let him know that he will not get Luhya votes, especially from Bungoma and Trans Nzoia counties,’’ the former minister for local government said. He said the more than 300,000 votes that the community gave Mudavadi in 2013 will now go to President Kenyatta. ‘’In the last election, we gave Musalia over 300,000 votes in Bungoma and now all of us have decided to vote for Uhuru,’’ Kombo said.If Raila is expecting to win the Western vote easily, he will be shocked after the August 8 elections.