Mudavadi sure of trouncing Raila, Uhuru in polls

By PETER ATSIAYA

Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi took campaigns to his Western backyard two days after being endorsed Amani Alliance presidential candidate.

Mudavadi, accompanied by Justice minister Eugene Wamalwa, led ten MPs in a series of rallies in Bungoma County.

The DPM arrived at Webuye Airstrip and proceeded to Webuye Catholic Church for Sunday service before addressing more than 2,000 teachers from Western region at Pan Paper Social Hall. Cabinet Minister Soita Shitanda, MPs Yusuf Chanzu, George Khaniri, Musikari Kombo, Boni Khalwale, Alfred Sambu, Ben Washiali and Manyala Keya, among others, accompanied him.

Mudavadi and Wamalwa said politics in Western region will not be the same again after they formed Amani. They added that the region was no longer a hunting ground for presidential candidates as people have one of their own.

Mudavadi warned his opponents that he was going to rattle them.

“Mudavadi and I are the face of Western and our collaboration has made the Western communities get the elusive unity,” said Wamalwa yesterday. He added: “Those who have been talking ill of Mudavadi and I should be ready for battle.”

Mudavadi noted there have been spirited efforts by some leaders to ensure that there was no presidential candidate from western region.

“Ask yourself why our opponents were determined to ensure that no name of a western presidential candidate would be on the ballot paper on March 4,” said Mudavadi.

The Sabatia MP noted that members of the Luhya community have been their own critics and urged them to have confidence in themselves.

He added claims that members of Bukusu and Maragoli communities are bitter rivals was a myth and should be discarded.

“I feel sad when our own people despise leaders from this region. When I declared my candidature for presidency, they said Mudavadi is going nowhere. They said the same to Wamalwa. Have confidence in yourself,” said Mudavadi.

“Nobody can ignore us now. If I go there to negotiate alone I would be weak but now we are strong enough. We are going to rattle our opponents seriously and they have already started shivering after our National Delegates Conference in Nairobi on Friday,” added Mudavadi.

He told residents to turn up in large numbers and vote, adding that people have a weakness of failing to cast their votes on voting day.

“Don’t wait to be given money or pushed to vote on March 4. Get out and vote like the communities where our opponents come from do,” said Mudavadi.

Said Wamalwa: “Western would be a bloc and not a swing vote again.”

He noted the unity they have forged would be difficult to break.