By Alex Wekesa
A Sirisia Constituency Ford Kenya Parliamentary a spirant,Bernard Waliuba, has claimed that Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya has been contracted by ‘outsiders ‘ to curtail Wetang’ulas 2032 Presidential bid.
Speaking to the press today, the Nairobi based businessman described Governor Natembeya’s political attacks as reckless and cheap claiming that the governor is ‘ a hired gun ‘ to bring down Wetang’ula.
The businessman claimed Natembeya had been sponsored by ‘outsiders’ to derail the Speaker of the national Assembly’s 2032 Presidential ambitions.
“We know you are sponsored to divide the Luhyia vote to scuttle the Speakers grand match to state house but we will stop you with your masters,” said Waliuba.
Mr.Waliuba asked Governor Natembeya to exercise restraint and avoid insults and foul language against Wetang’ula .
“I want to ask Governor Natembeya to Spare Speaker Wetang’ula the politics of war, threats and violence. It is dishonest and old school for Natembeya to insult other leaders to gain power”, he said.
Waliuba claimed that Natembeya had been sponsored by ‘outsiders’ and will ‘lose politically’ by bringing down ‘ a brother’.
“Mukhisa Kituyi tried to bring Wamalwa down,he went under,Mwangale,Wabuge and Gumo tried it against Muliro,they failed.Wangamati,Wamunyinyi,Eseli did the same.Where are they politically? You cannot be used by outsiders to bring down members of your family.It doesn’t work among the Bukusu’s ,may be in other regions.
He said that Wetang’ula has shortcomings like other leaders but he is at a position where he cannot be replaced by ‘political amateurs.
” It took 19 years after Muliro was sacked in cabinet to get Wamalwa at the helm of Ford Kenya.It then cost the late Wamalwa 8 years as Ford K chairman to become vice President.From 2003 it has taken Wetang’ula 19 years to third in command. We are not fools to replace him with Natembeya and take 30 years to be in power,”
Natembeya and Wetang’ula have been at odds, openly commenting on issues such as Luhya nation unity and the battle for political Kingship.
Waliuba said the Luhyia community is now after the Presidency and not political Kingship and spokesperson position.
“We are after the Presidency manifesting in Wetang’ula and Mudavadi and not the activism in Natembeya,”
He added “, As a Western region we want to be somewhere come 2032 but it will be impossible to even convince other communities to support us if we continue fighting among each other”.
Natembeya had in February dismissed Speaker Wetang’ula’s style of leadership adding that the speaker of the national assembly has established himself as a political broker at the expense of development in Western Kenya.
” He wants to ‘eat on our behalf and propagate poverty,” said Natembeya.
In the Luhyia dialect saying ‘Tawe’ means rejecting an ideal,a suggestion .
Natembeya has called on the Luhyia nation to reject Speaker Wetang’ula and Prime cabinet secretary Musalia Mudavadi political overtures claiming that they have nothing to offer to the people.
” it is a call to people to reject bad leadership, poverty, nepotism, tribalism, politics of violence, all those things that are bad. We want to reject them.They have no history of development. They have used our numbers to fill their stomachs,” he claimed.
Natembeya said that at the village level people are living in abject poverty , un employment levels are high ,they are affected by jiggers and cannot take their kids to school while the two leaders were “using the communities numerical strength to enrich themselves”.
The Trans Nzoia governor claimed that Wetang’ula and Mudavadi ,who have been in senior government positions for over 30 years have never used their influence to reduce poverty and unemployment in the region.
“At that level and then now, to whom do we attribute these problems? This problem is there’s got to have been an accountable political leadership. You’re elected, but somehow you think solving those problems, is not part of your assignment,” he added.
In response, Speaker Wetang’ula said ,” Soon you will face harsh judgment from the electorate. You will realise your irrelevance in Society. Stop hurling insults and serve the people”
Wetang’ula said that he will concentrate on uniting the Luhyia community towards the next general election adding that he would not waste time responding to the governor.
Ends.
