Political temperatures are rising in Kakamega County as two groups plan rival meetings on Saturday, January 18, 2020.
While leaders allied to opposition leader Raila Odinga are planning a meeting to deliberate on the Building Bridges Initiative report at Bukhungu Stadium, Luhya political supremos Musalia Mudavadi, Moses Wetangula and a section of Jubilee MPs are also planning a rally at the Mumias Sugar Complex.
The plot thickened after trade unionist Francis Atwoli claimed that Mudavadi and Wetangula would be put under house arrest to stop them from attending their anti-BBI rally.
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However, Atwoli who is the secretary-general of the Central Organisation of Trade Unions, has no authority to direct the National Police Service.
Accompanied by rebel Amani National Congress Senator Cleophas Malala, nominated MP Godfrey Osotsi and Kakamega Woman MP Elsie Muhanda (ODM), Atwoli claimed that those opposed to their BBI rally at Bukhungu would not be allowed to hold their meeting at Mumias Sugar Complex.
“I’m a system in my own right. I’m the next powerful leader in this country after President Uhuru Kenyatta and Prime Minister Raila Odinga. In my domain (trade union), I’ve no equal in Africa, East Africa and Kenya,” boasted Atwoli.
Reports reaching K24 Digital revealed that police are contemplating cancelling the Mumias rally to avert what they termed as “dangerous political confrontation.”
“As a key mobiliser of the Bukhungu rally I warn the proponents of the Mumias meeting to stop their plan or we will deal with them,” Atwoli said.
The Cotu official said those opposed to the BBI and will be labelled as part of the Tanga Tanga group of the Jubilee Party.
Mudavadi and Wetang’ula have vowed to skip the Kakamega rally terming it a scheme by Orange Democratic Movement to reinvent itself in the area.
The duo skipped a consultative meeting held last Sunday at Nzoia Sugar Company Guest House in Bungoma County to firm up the agenda for the Bukhungu rally.
National Assembly Majority Whip Benjamin Washiali planned the Mumias rally to run concurrently with the Bukhungu rally and dared Atwoli to stop the meeting.
The Mumias rally is said to have attracted over 30 MPs from Jubilee, ANC and Ford-Kenya parties.
