Atwoli cautions western Kenya leaders against joining Jubilee

Cotu Secretary-General Francis Atwoli gives a speech during a consultative forum of trade union leaders at Tom Mboya Labour College in Kisumu on July 25, 2016. He warned that the Jubilee coalition was keen to use all means to win the support of western Kenya. PHOTO | TONNY OMONDI | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Western Kenya leaders have indicated that they will be ditching the Raila-Odinga led Opposition alliance, Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord).
  • Their counterparts from President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee have asked them to decamp to the ruling coalition, which plans to transform itself into a party.

Politicians from western Kenya were Monday warned against defecting to the yet-to-be-launched Jubilee Party.

Central Organization of Trade Unions (Cotu) Secretary-General Francis Atwoli issued the caution as an MP from the region revealed that leaders were working on plans to form one political party on whose ticket they would contest next year’s elections.

Western Kenya leaders have indicated that they will be ditching the Raila-Odinga led Opposition alliance, Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord).

Their counterparts from President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee have asked them to decamp to the ruling coalition, which plans to transform itself into a party.

Mr Atwoli claimed that some politicians were being “bought” to defect by people, who were not interested in improving the lives of members of the community.

The veteran trade unionist warned that the Jubilee coalition was keen to use all means to win the support of the populous region.

“Leaders from western should not allow themselves to fall prey to Jubilee’s machinations, especially being bought with a few million shillings,” Mr Atwoli said at Tom Mboya College, Kisumu County.

“What these people are doing is trying to initiate defections or attract rebels into their camp.”

He spoke against the backdrop of a growing rebellion by a section of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Members of Parliament from the region and sustained forays by the Jubilee leadership.

MPs Ababu Namwamba (Budalang’i), Paul Otuoma (Funyula) and John Waluke (Sirisia) recently resigned from their positions of national secretary-general, vice-chairman and Bungoma Branch chairman, respectively, citing frustrations.

They have since risen against party leader Raila Odinga, who spent five days in the region last week on a damage control tour that had mixed results.

FOLLOW SUIT

Mr Namwamba has dismissed claims that he is destined for Jubilee, while Dr Otuoma vowed to remain in ODM.

“They cheat themselves that they are going to the government to get development,” said Mr Atwoli. “Those who are leaving ODM will hang there; those going to Jubilee will not get a chance to be accepted back.”

The Cotu boss, who has made several unsuccessful attempts to bring western Kenya politicians together, said many communities had their de facto leaders.

“Kambas are good; they have abandoned Dr Alfred Mutua because they know their spokesperson. The Maasai, the same case. In Nyanza, the de facto leader is there and you cannot waste time campaigning there,” he said.

The Kenya Plantation and Agricultural Workers Union secretary-general predicted that the Jubilee government — which he accused of failing to initiate and implement projects in the region — will now rush with a few goodies to lure voters.

“There are many roads which have been neglected here and the government has been doing nothing,” he said. “They will now come and place some few machines on the road, lying that construction will continue.

“For once, can we stand up and tell them off.”

Mr Atwoli also took a swipe at Deputy President William Ruto, whom he accused of dishing out money in an attempt to buy support in Cord strongholds.

As Mr Atwoli spoke, Lugari MP Ayub Savula was saying in Meru that Mr Namwamba, Cord co-principal Moses Wetang’ula, Amani coalition leader Musalia Mudavadi and New Ford-Kenya party leaders, among other politicians from the region, were ready to come together in a party that would help to unite the region.

“The first ever unity in the Luhya community will be experienced in 2017,” Mr Savula said.

He was speaking at a fundraiser at Kiamugaka Methodist Church graced by Jubilee Party National Steering Committee co-chairman Kiraitu Murungi.

“Those doubting it should wait and see what Luhyas can do in this country.”

STRENGTH IN UNITY
Mr Savula accused Mr Odinga of dividing western Kenya. He added that leaders from the region would not allow people from other communities to dictate the voting patterns in their area, because the voters there are well-prepared for their 2017 destiny.

“We voted for Raila Odinga in 2007 and 2013,” he said. “This time round, we plan to have our own because we believe when we are united we will have a better chance.”

He said the leaders would announce a major inclusive movement.

“By December, we will announce where we will be heading,” he said. “We will join a team that we will have a 50 per cent share in the coalition.”

The remarks echo the positions taken by Mr Namwamba and Mr Mudavadi that the region should unite and present one presidential candidate.

This comes three days after Mr Wetang’ula asked Mr Odinga to allow him and Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka to battle it out for the Cord ticket.

Divisions within Cord appeared to deepen on Saturday when Mr Wetang’ula said in Busia that he should be the candidate because of the superior numbers in his base.

Mr Savula said western Kenya leaders were engaging Mr Odinga and President Kenyatta to see which coalition to join. He said they were keen to join the winning team so as to bring development in the region.