Western Kenya politicians are have threatened to boycott President Uhuru Kenyatta’s planned tour of the region in August.
Led by Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, the Luhya leaders met at State House in Mombasa where they laid down their demands ahead of the presidential tour.
Budalangi MP Raphael Wanjala threatened to mobilise other legislators from the region to boycott President Uhuru’s tour if they are not fully involved in the plans.
”We have not received any information about the president’s itinerary ahead of his visit. However, we recently saw him meet a few governors from the region.
So all we are saying is that if the president wants to visit the governors, he can go ahead and do so, but we will not intrude on meetings to which we have not been invited,” Wanjala said in a press conference.
The legislators are also not impressed by the fact that Uhuru will be accompanied by ODM leader Raila Odinga.
They consider this as a ridicule to ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi and FORD-Kenya’s Moses Wetangula who are influential Western Kenya leaders.
According to Lugari MP Ayub Savula, Raila Odinga has hijacked the president’s tour of Musalia Mudavadi’s perceived political bastion, and it will not be allowed.
“I know there are people who are trying to sideline Mudavadi to deny him support in his home turf. We will not accept that,” said Ayub Savula.
Uhuru’s planned tour to Western Kenya comes barely a month after a successful tour of the Ukambani region.
In the Ukambani tour, Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka also frowned at the fact that Raila Odinga accompanied the Head of State.
The President is also expected to tour the Rift Valley region to launch projects.
His planned tour of DP Ruto’s backyard comes after accusations that he abandoned the region since his March 2018 handshake with Raila Odinga.
