Editor's Review

Malala claimed Kakamega is his political bastion and that he is the only one who can authorise such a meeting

Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala has said the Azimio La Magharibi rally scheduled at Bukhungu Stadium in Kakamega County on December 31, will not happen.

Speaking in Vihiga County during the Maragoli Cultural Festival on Sunday, December 26, Malala claimed Kakamega County is his political bastion and that he is the only one who can authorise such a political meeting.

According to the Senator, he will only allow the meeting to be held if ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi, whom he is rooting for the presidency, gives him a nod.

{The convener of the Azimio la Magharibi COTU SG Francis Atwoli. Image: Courtesy}

"I have heard you (Mudavadi) saying that you will not be going to that Kakamega meeting. Kakamega is my bedroom and I want to tell those guys that they should not come there on 31st December if they don't get the permit from Hon. Mudavadi. I want to officially say that there will be no meeting at Bukhungu Stadium," he said.

The Senator said he will not allow the ODM leader Raila Odinga to be endorsed for the presidency at a region that is perceived as Muadavadi's political stronghold.

"Even if you want to endorse Raila, we are saying Kakamega is a no go zone and we are serious about it.

"We want to ensure that Mudavadi is the President of Kenya and therefore, we are not going to negotiate about that," he added.

The Luhya meeting has sparked debate among leaders from the region with a section of them including Mudavadi and Ford Kenya party leader Moses Wetangula promising to give it a wide berth.

COTU Secretary General Franci Atwoli, years back, said he will organize the meeting to give the region a political direction on who to support in the 2022 polls.

Reports indicate that Atwoli is set to declare Raila as the region 2022 presidential choice, a matter that has rattled Wetangula and Mudavadi who are also eyeing the presidency.