Oparanya, Wamalwa deny claims they’re undermining Luhya unity quest

Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and Devolution Cabinet Secretary
Eugene Wamalwa on Monday fought off claims that they have been undermining
Luhya community’s quest for the presidency by sabotaging Musalia Mudavadi and Moses
Wetangula’s efforts.

CS Wamwawa and Governor Oparanya, who met elders from the Banyore,
Tiriki and Maragoli, on Sunday night, June 14, at the remote Ebunangwe Garden
Park Hotel in Vihiga County, said their goal is to develop transformation plans
to address under-development in Western Kenya region.

The duo, who are fighting a perception that they are being financed to
divide the vote-rich Western bloc, insisted that the ‘Kajiado Declaration’ that
crowned them as the Luhya community spokesmen is not targeting the Ford Kenya
or Amani National Congress leaders.  

“What we talked at Kajiadi meeting and in Nairobi is a transformative action plan for the region. Our mission is not to perpetuate infighting but to unite our people and for that, we are here to receive your blessings,” CS Wamalwa told elders.

He claimed they had united behind the handshake between President Uhuru
Kenyatta and opposition chief Raila Odinga to stop infighting and focus on
development.

Wamalwa said that the Western region remains largely under-developed because
of the long spell in opposition politics.

 “The reason we have not seen much development is because we didn’t invest in the Jubilee government. This time around, we must ensure we are on the negotiating table,” Oparanya told the meeting largely snubbed by all elected Vihiga MPs, senator, women representative, and MCAs.

The two leaders were accompanied by Busia Governor Sospeter Ojaamong, host Governor Wilber Otichillo, two MPs from Kakamega Bernard Shinali, and Emmanuel Wangwe and veteran politicians Dr. Noah Wekesa, Kenneth Marende and ANC rebel nominated MP Godfrey Osotsi.

Meanwhile, Wamalwa said a meeting of leaders from Kakamega, Bungoma,
Busia, Trans Nzoia and Vihiga counties with the Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred
Matiang’I will be held this week to discuss the development agenda for the
region.

“We shall meet the CS to discuss the stalled development projects and
action plan. We want to see the revival of the sugar industry and cotton,
construction of a gold refinery in Kakamega and granite factory in Vihiga,”
Wamalwa said.