It was also during the meeting that Kakamega Senator Cleopas Malala and Navakholo MP Emmanuel Wangwe were picked to spearhead the community’s interests in parliamentary re-alignments following the purge on Ruto’s allies.
It was again not lost on observers that it did not take a week before the coup in Ford Kenya took place, with Wetang’ula being replaced by Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi.
A similar attempt was made on Mudavadi, with Nominated MP Godfrey Osotsi, a Raila ally, demanding that he (Mudavadi) immediately calls party elections which, he said, were long overdue. He did not, however, make any headway.
Come June 13 and Raila was back at Ildamat, this time to consolidate his troops in western Kenya ahead of anticipated BBI campaigns.
The meeting brought together some 40 legislators from the region, including Wamalwa and Oparanya who were tasked with spearheading efforts to consolidate the Luhya vote ahead of the next general elections.
Away from the high stakes politics, Ildamat also plays host to various delegations, ranging from trade unionists to the local Maasai who flock the home to pay homage to the Cotu leader.
It is not uncommon to run into Maasai morans delivering a goat to the Cotu boss, who is famed for his generosity to the local community, including offering bright but needy children education bursaries.
Addressing a BBI rally at Narok stadium in February, local senator Ledama ole Kina heaped praises on Atwoli who was present, saying; “This At woli who is my good friend has been living in the Maasai region for a long time but he has restricted himself to the rules and policies of the Maasai community. If he is looking for a leadership position, he goes to the Mulembe nation to look for it. He is even the one who has been telling me to tell the people that whenever he is interested in politics, he runs to Western region.”
Despite his well publicised contempt for Ruto, Atwoli is an equal opportunity host.
It is not uncommon to bump into some of the fiercely pro Ruto politicians among them MPs Didmus Barasa, Nelson Koech, Dan Wanyama and Bernard Shinali passing by Ildamat on a weekend to pay homage.
MPs, especially those sitting in the National Assembly Labour committee, are also frequent visitors.
At the height of a push by then Labour Cabinet Secretary Kambi Kazungu to push amendments to the law to kick Atwoli and Federation of Kenya Employers (FKE) Executive Director Jacqueline Mugo from the NSSF board, several committee members trooped to Ildamat one Sunday afternoon.
Asked about their mission, the delegation leader, an outspoken MP from Kisumu County, bluntly responded; “Our work as MPs is to oversight, and just like you journalists, we have to get the other side of the story, that is why we are here.” Atwoli’s side of the story carried the day.
• Opposition leader Raila Odinga is perhaps the most conspicuous leader who makes many trips to the homestead regularly.
• Leaders from western Kenya have also trooped there on many occasions to craft deals.
• While the homestead is in Maasai land, Atwoli doesn’t seem to involve himself much in the areas politics.
MURKOMEN
The residence is just a den for deal making. Those who meet there are clueless brokers