Tension ahead of Bukhungu meeting as Western leaders criticise Francis Atwoli

Tension is building up in Kakamega town ahead of the Bukhungu Stadium meeting organised by Cotu secretary-general Francis Atwoli to chart the political path for the Western region.

On Tuesday morning, two groups clashed in Kakamega town over the planned meeting.

A team of Butsotso elders was addressing reporters at Golden Inn Hotel in Kakamega to express their displeasure at how the meeting was being organised when they were ambushed by a team of ODM youth, who disrupted the event.

This comes after a section of leaders from the vote-rich region expressed opposing views on the planned meeting.

Former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale, MPs Sakwa Bunyasi (Nambale), Beatrice Adagala (Vihiga County woman rep) and Alfred Agoi (Sabatia) and ANC chairman Kelvin Lunani have criticised Mr Atwoli’s initiative, saying he was imposing his wishes on the voters of the region.

Mr Bunyasi said the Cotu boss has no democratic mandate to dictate the voting pattern of the Mulembe nation.

“Let him stop thinking that he will direct voters on who to vote for and who not to vote for. Voters in Western are independent and should exercise their rights without being coerced,” said Mr Bunyasi.

Heavy police presence

Mr Khalwale challenged Mr Atwoli to stop capitalising on the political naivety of some of the leaders in the region to achieve his goals.

“We are not interested in Raila Odinga coming to grace a meeting of the Luhya people. We have Luhya leaders who are capable of presiding over such meetings but they have been sidelined by the organisers in favour of Mr Odinga,” he said.

A heavy police presence is expected at the meeting on Mr Atwoli’s invitation.

Leaders opposed to the initiative say the security agents should operate within the law and not be used to intimidate and harass those with opposing views.

“I know that the majority of the people in Western are not happy with the manner the meeting is being organised. I know security can easily go out of control,” he said. 

“But I appeal to Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i to ensure that security officers operate within the borders of the law on December 31 and beyond. Should the security officers overlap their mandate, then Mr Matiang’i will bear the blame.”

Meanwhile, Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala presented himself to the police in Mumias after he was summoned by the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC) to respond to questions about the statements he made in Vihiga County threatening to disrupt the Bukhungu meeting.

Disrupting the meeting

Recording a statement before Kakamega Central police boss David Kabena and his Mumias West counterpart Stephen Muoni at the Mumias Complex police post on Monday evening, the outspoken politician said he did not mean to disrupt the planned meeting.

“What I said were mere political utterances and I have no intention of disrupting the meeting, because on the material day I will be busy officiating the finals of my Sh1 million Cleo Malala Super Cup in Mumias,” he said.

On Tuesday, Mr Shiroko Shirenje, the secretary-general of the Butsotso community, said they usually hold their cultural festival on December 31 and the Bukhungu meeting would interfere with their plans.

“We are highly concerned about statements issued by organisers that there will be no other meeting in the Western region on December 31. This means our cultural day will be interfered with,” said Mr Shirenje.

The elders condemned Mr Atwoli, claiming he intended to interfere with other meetings in Kakamega County.

But the press briefing was disrupted by young people, who invaded the hotel and roughed up the organisers.
Journalists were not spared either and scampered for safety as the men threatened to vandalise their equipment.

Lurambi sub-county ODM chairman Joseph Oyolo said Kakamega is a cosmopolitan county and everyone should be allowed to attend the meeting.

“We, first of all, want Senator Malala to apologise to the people of Kakamega over the utterances he made regarding our meeting. Kakamega is cosmopolitan and no one owns the town. He was elected by all the people of Kakamega, including Luos. He should not belittle anyone in Kakamega,” Mr Oyolo said.

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