Barasa seeks to calm storm after his deputy demands 50-50 stake
Kakamega Governor-Elect Fernandes Barasa was yesterday fighting to stem the acrimony in his incoming government following outbursts from Deputy Governor-designate Ayub Savula.
The former Lugari Member of Parliamenet has demanded half of the slots in the county’s new appointments and refers to himself as co-governor instead of deputy.
Stern warning
He also claims that he was forced to withdraw his support for the UDA presidential candidate William Ruto in favour of Azimio’s Raila Odinga. “I was strongly behind Hon Ruto but things started taking a turn immediately after the 2017 elections when some people in the Jubilee administration used threats, blackmail and intimidation to force me leave his camp,” said Savula.
“My wives and I were arrested and arraigned in court over trumped-up charges alleging that I had stolen government money which were all schemes to force me withdraw my support for Ruto,” he added.
The former Lugari MP declared his support for President Ruto.
The remarks, made over the weekend, jolted the Azimio vessel with the outgoing Governor Wycliffe Oparanya convening an emergency meeting at his Likuyani home where the issue was extensively discussed.
Oparanya issued a stern warning after the meeting saying the party would not condone members who would align themselves with Kenya Kwanza. “We as Azimio have accepted the presidential election results of August 29 and are ready to effectively play our role as the Opposition,” said Oparanya.
He added: “I therefore take this opportunity to issue a warning to our elected leaders who could be planning to join Kenya Kwanza that they risk being punished.”
The outgoing county chief, who is one of the ODM deputy party leaders, was among the luminaries who played a pivotal role in crafting the Barasa and Savula governorship ticket that was christened ‘BaraSavula’.
Shocked many
Savula had earlier left ANC to protest party leader Musalia Mudavadi’s decision to join forces with Ruto.The other MPs from Kakamega who left ANC were Christopher Aseka of Khwisero, Titus Khamala of Lurambi, Peter Nabulindo of Matungu and Butere’s Tindi Mwale. However, unlike his colleagues who joined ODM and were handed direct tickets, Savula, who was then eyeing the governorship, opted for DAP-Kenya after sensing that the Orange party would deny him the ticket in favour of Barasa.
He, thus, shocked many when he announced his decision to deputise the former Ketraco boss who was also forced to drop his then running-mate Innocent Mugabe.
Mugabe eventually secured the ODM ticket which he successfully used to clinch the Likuyani parliamentary seat.
Savula’s latest remarks have jolted the Azimio leadership amid claims that he wants to dethrone Barasa once they take the oath of office tomorrow.
Azimio enjoys a comfortable majority in the county assembly with 48 out of 60 elected MCAs. But the governor-elect downplayed the issue yesterday and blamed it on their political enemies.
He said he was focused on tomorrow’s event and “would not condone distractions”.
