Kakamega Senator Malalah reaffirms Mudavadi loyalty
Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malalah yesterday distanced himself from Deputy President William Ruto, only a few days after hosting him in Mumias.
The senator said he had not shifted to the DP’s camp insisting he would support Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi for president in the coming General election.
He said he did not invite Ruto to the finals of his soccer tournament at Mumias Complex last Friday.
“We advertised our tournament all over and the DP must have got wind and decided to give us a surprise visit as a neighbour,” he said.
The Mumias event ran concurrently with the Azimio La Umoja meeting at Bukhungu stadium organised by Cotu boss Francis Atwoli and Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya. ODM leader Raila Odinga graced the meeting.
Malalah was speaking at Mukango village in Shinyalu constituency when he graced a get-together party organised by businessman Fred Ikana.
Two-horse race
He said senior Luhya members opposed to Mudavadi’s bid for the presidency were driven by jealousy.
“Ask yourselves why all those from our community fighting Mudavadi, are not vying for any seat in next year’s elections.
I thought they would also be seeking elective positions so as to convince us that they were the best alternatives,” said Malalah.
“Atwoli is not vying for any political seat and cannot win any, Oparanya is doing his final term while Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa also says he will not be seeking any elective position. So why are they fighting Mudavadi? Jealousy,” he added.
Malalah, alongside ANC’s Head of Strategy Godfrey Kanoti and Ikana; who is eyeing the Shinyalu MP seat on the party’s ticket, said Mudavadi would confound both friend and foe.
“Our party leader is not involved in any underhand deals with any of his competitors.
That is not his nature and I can assure you that he will not only vie for the Presidency but will win,” said Kanoti.
The trio dismissed talk of a two-horse race and said this year’s elections would be a replica of 2002, when politicians came together and rallied behind Mwai Kibaki only a few months to the polling date.
Malalah hit out at Lugari MP Ayub Savula for decamping to the Azimio movement. He said Savula had “killed” his political ambitions.
