Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala has laid off the appointment of COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli as the Luyha spokesperson.
In a video posted on his Twitter on Monday, October 11, the ANC senator said Atwoli is not a trustee of Western Kenya votes.
Malala said the vocal unionist is not a politician nor a presidential candidate hence cannot negotiate on behalf of the Luyha community.
“I want to tell the governors and their supporters who were hosted by Atwoli at the Golf Hotel and appointed him as the Luhya spokesman that if you are not a presidential candidate, you have no business meddling in political negotiation,” Malalah said.
Malala who is eying the Kakamega gubernatorial seat maintained that ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi remains the ultimate spokesperson of the Mulembe nation.
On Sunday, October 10, elected leaders from Western Kenya unanimously endorsed Atwoli to coordinate negotiations for the Luhya stake ahead of the 2022 General Election.
“Noting that the country is geared towards political transition and that each community in Kenya is strategising to form and or be part of next government,
“We, therefore, resolved that Francis Atwoli shall coordinate and help the community, negotiate our stakes and be part of the next government,” the leaders said in a statement read by Vihiga Governor Wilberforce Otichilo.
He was also given an express mandate to enter into immediate negotiations with the leading presidential candidates to ensure the Luyha community is not left out in the government that would be formed after the 2022 elections.
The installation of Atwoli as the lead Luhya political negotiator in the 2022 tangram appears to be politically instigated since he has been publicly drumming up support for ODM leader Raila Odinga to succeed retiring President Uhuru Kenyatta.
