Khalwale ready to lock horns with PM

Wednesday, 01 June 2011 17:27 BY MOSOKU GEOFFREY

BULL FIGHTER: Shitanda, Khalwalwe and Eugene address the press yesterday.

Ikolomani MP Bonny Kwalwale has vowed to fight impunity, corruption and the rising cost of living. Khalwale, who was sworn in yesterday after being reelected, said he was directing his energies towards Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Khalwale, commonly known as the ‘Bull Fighter’ took issue with the PM who he accused of masquerading as a reformer. “I want the Prime Minister tonight to do a lot of soul searching and ask himself if he believes he is the reformer that Kenyans have known,” he said.
 The outspoken MP said he is targeting Raila since he has resorted to apply the Moi tactics while campaigning for ODM candidates. He said the PM  campaigned using State resources while promising development if ODM wins but the projects have now been abandoned.
Khalwale alleged that the Shigalagala-Butere road which Raila inaugurated its construction has now been abandoned after ODM’s Bernard Shinali lost. “All the earthmovers brought to Ikolomani vanished when the ODM candidate was defeated and even the commemorative plaque removed,” he told reporters at the Railways Club in Nairobi.
Khalwale demanded an apology from the PM to Kenya and the people of Ikolomani for abusing State resources. He also said Medical Services minister Anyang' Nyong'o promised to supply medicine to dispensaries in the area should Shinali be elected.
Yesterday, Raila’s spokesman Dennis Onyango told The Star to direct all inquiries pertaining to the Shigalagala-Butere project to the Roads Ministry and not the PM’s office.
Khalwale, who was accompanied by MPs Soita Shitanda, Muskari Kombo and Eugene Wamalwa said he will raise the issue in Parliament. “I will be moving on the floor of the House to ask the PM to account for funds utilized on a phantom project with following due process,” he added.
Shitanda, Kombo and Eugene criticized those labeling them as tribalists for supporting their own. “When people from Kikuyu, Luo, Kamba and other communities filed candidates, they are not tribal but when Luyhia’s support theirs, they are branded tribalists,” Komo said. “The issue of tribalism comes whenever Raila comes to Kakamega and says he is Luhyia but we have never gone to Luoland and claim we are Luos; whose a tribalists here?” Khalwale added. New Ford Kenya announced that they will hold a homecoming party on June 18 in Ikolomani.