You cannot tell us how to vote, Khalwale tells Raila

Kakamega Senator Bonny Khalwale has lashed out at ODM leader Raila Odinga over his calls for a six-piece voting for ODM candidates in the 2017 elections.

In his tour of Kakamega last week, Raila had called on his supporters in the county to vote for ODM candidates in the presidential, governorship, senatorial, parliamentary, ward representative, and women representative positions.

“I want to tell your partner and my friend (Raila Odinga) that he is talking to himself. Our people, especially here in Kakamega, will vote for a CORD candidate in the presidential election – and we want that to be you (Moses Wetangula).

“In the governorship, senatorial, parliamentary, and MCA positions, we will vote for Ford Kenya candidates.”

Khalwale, who defected from UDF to Ford Kenya, is bracing for a bruising battle with Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya who has expressed willingness to defend his seat in the 2017 elections.

Raila has openly showed support for Governor Oparanya, who is ODM’s  deputy party leader.

This has however not deterred Khalwale from his push to clinch the seat as he exudes confidence in flooring Oparanya in the race.

“If Raila does not heed to the voice of the people of Kakamega, he should know that I have never lost to an ODM candidate and I am not about to.”

He praised Wetangula’s leadership style saying throughout his political career including when he was in the government he did his best to give opportunities to people from the Luhya community.

“When I look at Wetangula, I see people like Martin Shikuku, the late Michael Kijana, Moses Mudavadi, and Masinde Muliro. It is evident that he is concerned with the interest of the Luhya community and has done a lot to give opportunities to people from this region.”

Khalwale called on the Luhya community to unite, saying it is the only way they can claim a stake in CORD.

“Power respects only one thing, power respects power and that is why as the Luhya community we have to unite in order to have power in CORD coalition.”

“The reason Uhuru respects Ruto is because both of them have the numbers united in their individual communities.”

“When Ruto says Luhyas should put their house in order or else they will be played politically, he is telling the truth. It is therefore perturbing to see young leaders shifting base to Jubilee because of the lure of brown envelopes.”

Khalwale warned Luhya leaders against shifting camp to Jubilee saying the move is ill-advised.

He also called on Amani National Congress (ANC) Musalia Mudavadi and Cyrus Jirongo of UDF to support Wetangula since they do not have representatives in elective positions.

@benjaminwafula