Africa-Press – Kenya. Former Prime Minister and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader, Raila Odinga has called out Amani National Congress leaders for criticising his Western Kenya tour after some claimed he was unwelcome.
Amani National Congress party leader, Musalia Mudavadi, his deputy Ayub Savula and Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala have been campaigning, insinuating that they have successfully isolated Raila and that the region was no longer under the ODM leader’s control.
Before Raila’s visit, Malala had sensationally claimed that ODM and its leader were not welcome in Western Kenya because it is now an ANC zone under Mudavadi’s leadership.
Additionally, Malala and ANC deputy party leader, Ayub Savula had indicated that One Kenya Alliance (OKA) had successfully locked Raila out of Ukambani and Western and only limited him to Luo Nyanza.
But during his visit on Friday 10, bullish looking Raila slammed ANC stalwarts and OKA, telling them that nobody can block him from visiting Western for it is like his second home.
Despite the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) setback, the ODM leader has been going around the country, popularizing his ‘Azimio la Umoja’ philosophy and asking for support in the upcoming 2022 polls.
“Those stating that Baba should not come to the Western region should know that it is my home. Can I be blocked from coming to Kakamega? I am coming home, I am a son of Ingo (home),” he told residents in Kakamega town, while in the company of the county governor, Wycliffe Oparanya.
Before the Western Kenya visit, Raila had a consultative meeting in Nairobi with businessmen and women, whom he promised to help by creating a conducive business environment if he gets the chance to be the president.
While touring Kakamega, Raila promised to revive collapsed industries, including Mumias Sugar factory, in the area if elected president. He called upon the residents to support his candidacy for the upcoming 2022 polls.
“With your support, I’m confident this time around we will get to Canaan. Do not be swayed away by leaders who are making empty promises and have nothing to offer,” he said.
“We are not looking for followers or bystanders but partners so that we can engage them on how to improve the infrastructure and revive the collapsed factories in the region,” he added.
While castigating Malala, Junet Mohammed and Oparanya said they have always wanted to bring investors to help revive the collapsed Mumias Sugar factory, but local leaders have always objected.
“We wanted to bring in a strategic investor to lease the factory, but politicians from here interfered with the process due to personal interests,” Oparanya added, pointing an accusing finger at Malala.
