Building Bridges Initiative proponents fight ODM perception
The conveners of tomorrow’s (Saturday) Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) rally resorted to threats to woo Luhya political Supremos Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetangula to attend a rally smeared by a public perception the meeting is ODM re-engineering campaign.
Devolution cabinet secretary Eugene Wamalwa, host governor Wycliffe Oparanya and governors Wilber Otichilo (Vihiga), Patrick Wangamati (Bungoma) and Sospeter Ojaamong (Busia) aware of the hostility told the media the meeting was a national project facilitated by taxpayers,
COTU secretary general Francis Atwoli and MPs Ayub Savula, Godfrey Osotsi, Wafula Wamunyinyi, and Senator Cleophas Malala resorted to threats to woo Mudavadi and Wetang’ula to Bukhungu stadium.
Atwoli said the Luhya community has no leadership deficiency and warned Mudavadi and Wetang’ula not expect political favour after skipping the meeting, noting, “We ignore the Johnny come lately who arrive after the beast is slayed ready with the knives.”
Wamalwa and at the four governors told the final inspection visit to the venue of the rally that the meeting would stick to the BBI report.
Media reports indicate Mudavadi and Wetang’ula plan to hand the meeting a wide berth, a move that could deny it impetus.
Said Oparanya, “As the host governor, I take this opportunity to assure that this meeting is a national government project.
The responsibility of convening it was given to us governors by our co-principals President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga and we are just implementing it.”
He said leaders from other parties should not shy from the meeting as no political party issues would arise. Otichilo the meeting was a brainstorming session by the area leadership on the post-BBI resolution made at a leaders’ consultative forum at Nzoia sugar guest house in Bungoma last week.
Wangamati said the Bukhungu meeting was not about political parties but building bridges adding the forum provide western region with a platform to be included in the next political dispensation.
He said contrary to public perception, the meeting is a national government project.
Wamalwa said the two levels of government were working together to facilitate the BBI meetings, adding the parley gives luhya leaders to show unity.
“We expect that at the end of tomorrow, we shall have a document that has gone through consultation.
“He said Western leaders should shy off the meeting. Savula (ANC) said luhya leaders snubbing the meeting would be an enemy of the people.
“This is where the national cake is shared. I urge Mudavadi and Wetang’ula to rethink their stand.”
Malala (ANC) said the rally was an avenue to cement luhya unity and urged his party leader to come on bode, adding,
“Tomorrow (Saturday) we shall have a register of leaders present.” Wamunyinyi fumbled as he responded to questions on whether he was representing his party leader Wetang'ula.
