Top leaders in the Azimio La Umoja have continued to court Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka to drop his Bungoma gubernatorial bid and join Raila Odinga’s government.
Speaking at various functions, the leaders, led by ODM Deputy Party Leader Wycliffe Oparanya and COTU boss Francis Atwoli have voiced their calls to the former Bungoma Governor to join Azimio La Umoja and land a more lucrative position in the next government.
This started on Wednesday when Mr. Atwoli asked Lusaka to join the fast-growing Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) which is led by Defense CS Eugene Wamalwa and Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi.
“Someone tell Lusaka to look for Eugene Wamalwa and Wafula Wamunyinyi and chat the way forward for his own good,” Atwoli said in Kakamega while addressing aspirants vying under the AzimioLa Umoja.
His call has been met with criticism from the Lusaka camp with Speaker’s supporters threatening to vote out Mr. Odinga if Lusaka doesn’t appear on the ballot as Bungoma gubernatorial candidate.
“No Kufwela [Lusaka] for Governor, no votes for Raila; as simple as that!’ Posted an ardent supporter of Lusaka, identified as Aggrey, on a popular WhatApp group run by a renown blogger.
Atwoli’s sentiments were echoed by Oparanya in Bungoma when the Kakamega County boss called upon Lusaka to step down from his gubernatorial ambition and consider a bigger seat in the next government should Raila Odinga be elected as President.
“My friend Hon. Lusaka is much welcome in Azimio La Umoja which is definitely going to form the next government. He should consider giving Wangamati time to complete his projects.” Said Oparanya.
Atwoli and Oparanya’s statements seem to rhyme with this writer’s past post in September last year which suggested that Wangamati has been luring Lusaka to accept an offer to a tune of Ksh2 billion in cash and in in kind and step down from the gubernatorial bid.
Yesterday, a screenshot of WhatsApp post believed to be that of the Senate Speaker, showed Lusaka refuting claims that he’s stepping down from the race, terming the reports as propaganda to derail his agenda.
“There have been propaganda going around that I have stepped down from the race. I want to affirm that I will be on the ballot and no going back,” read the post.
Mr. Lusaka lost to Wycliffe Wangamati in the 2017 general election when he vied on Jubilee ticket. It’s the Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula that led the political assault on Lusaka, terming him as the face of corruption in the country who should never be given another chance to lead the County.
Ironically, after falling out with Wangamati, the Ford Kenya leader is now fronting Lusaka to replace Wangamati, promising him a direct ticket under Ford Kenya party.
However, sources close to the Speaker have revealed that Wetang’ula’s recent move to back Deputy President William Ruto has angered Lusaka, who is still unwilling to declare his support for Ruto due to other political reasons.
It’s belied that Wetang’ula’s move to support Ruto’s UDA has not been received well by many of the Bungoma residents who feel that the Senator has now made it a habit of selling them to the highest bidder every political season and this may create voter apathy against Wetang’ula and anything to with him, something Lusaka is trying to avoid.
There have been reports that top leaders in Azimio are ganging up to support Lusaka to vie as Senator and send Wetang’ula home, a deal that Lusaka may not think of.
Wangamati will be seeking to defend his seat on a DAP-K ticket.