BY MWANAHABARI REPORTER
ODM leader Raila Odinga on Friday, September 10, dismissed Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala claims that the Western region was a no-go zone for the Orange party.
Addressing his supporters in Kakamega town, Raila hit out at the senator, saying he could not fall for his empty political threats.
Raila claimed Malala was among some of the legislators who blocked the sugar task force report outlining key reforms that could have helped revive the Kakamega-based Mumias Sugar Factory.
Raila linked Malala to Mumias Sugar woes, saying he blocked the government from implementing the Sugarcane task force that could have seen the miller being revived.
“The government wanted to implement the task force report to revive Mumias, he was bribed to stop it and now he is threatening to lock me out of Western.”
The task force was formed in 2018 and was headed by Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya and Governor Wycliffe Oparanya was handed to President Uhuru Kenyatta in February 2020.
Raila said no politician could stop him from reaching out to Western voters and urged his supporters to join him in building a united country.
“If you support me this time round, I will announce something big and we will reach where we want to go,” he told the crowd.
Since declaring his interest in the Kakamega Gubernatorial race, Malala has been discrediting Raila’s support in the region, saying Western was an ANC support base.
Before his visit, Malala had told locals to skip Raila’s functions saying the region was not ready to support the ODM leader in the 2022 General Election.
The Senator also accused the ODM leader of abandoning the Western region after the 2017 election only to re-appear now ahead of another political contest.
“After the Handshake, Raila abandoned the Luhya community and only took development to Luo Nyanza region,” he claimed.
The outspoken senator said the community will not back Raila’s State House bid in 2022 and will instead rally behind one of their one Musalia Mudavadi.
He challenged Raila to tour Western with President Kenyatta and launch projects the way he did in Kisumu and Siaya before asking for the community’s political support.
Malala is also on record dismissing Raila’s call for unity, saying the ODM leader had taken part in dividing the opposition under the defunct NASA coalition and the presidency after the 2018 Handshake between him and President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Tried to sell Raila in Kakamega
“Raila is not genuine in his unity quest having left the opposition divided after the Handshake and with the ongoing division between President Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto,” he said.
Malala weeks ago threatened to arrest ODM politicians who tried to sell Raila in Kakamega, saying the county was an ANC zone.
He likened selling ODM in the region to selling the illegal drug, Marijuana, claiming it would be enough reason to arrest the politician.
“If you come here to sell bhang, you know ODM is like bhang, we will arrest you,” Malala declared.
The Senator stated that the only legitimate party in the region was the Amani National Congress (ANC) and that all other parties were not allowed in the region.
Public gatherings despite the ban
Malala also called for the arrest of Raila Odinga and other politicians accompanying him for spreading Covid-19 in Western region.
Addressing the media on Friday evening, Malala accused Raila, Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, ODM secretary general Edwin Sifuna and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed of holding public gatherings despite the ban to curb the spread of Covid-19 infections.
He challenged Interior CS Fred Matiang’i to move with speed and enforce the Covid-19 protocols by arresting the leaders immediately.
“CS Matiang’i must act now and arrest these leaders for flouting the Covid-19 rules or lift up the ban for all politicians to campaign,” he said.
Malala accused Raila of disrespecting the protocols which he helped President Uhuru Kenyatta to put in place.
“He [Raila] was with President Kenyatta in Mombasa when he unveiled the containment protocols, and he is the first person to break the rules,” he added.
Raila is on a two-day tour of Western Kenya and will hold more consultative meetings.