The prodigal sons welcomed back ‘home’

It was a showdown of its kind yesterday at Bukhungu Stadium during the BBI rally at Bukhungu stadium in Kakamega county where Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetangula crashed the party few minutes after the guest of honor’s entourage arrived.

It caught many by surprise since they were sailing in the opposing team (Team Tangatanga) that was against BBI yet they decided to join the voyage bailing out on their earlier mission of holding a parallel rally at Nabongo grounds in Mumias. The prodigals sons were jubilantly welcomed back “home” by their coalition leader Rt Hon. Raila Odinga, western region leaders and the massive crowd that had turned-out during the event.

The western leaders were pleased to see the two top Party leaders joining the movement, signifying unity of the Mulembe nation something that has never been achieved in decades.

The presence of the two allies to Raila Odinga, however sparked a heated political debate with leaders from the western region who stood up to speak, urging the two to supports the Building Bridges Initiative.

Speaking during the event, Hon. Moses Wetangula cleared out the air that he was not against BBI in any way. “Every opinion counts, it does not mean if I don’t agree with you, am against you. We can also think differently, the most important thing is the unity of Kenya. It must be a unity of good will,” he said.

Wetangula outlined that the people of Kenya should be the center of BBI and inclusivity was important in the whole process .“Now that we are here we must make the people of Kenya the center of BBI. BBI is about the great country called Kenya and its people. BBI has 9 pillars, let us not run away with one pillar and forget the other eight. Inclusivity is as important as electoral justice, tribalism is as dangerous as stealing elections,” added Wetangula.

Musalia mudavadi too insisted, that he supports BBI and no one should say that he is against it quoting some of his comments he made in BOMAS during the launch of the BBI report on 26th November last year that Kenyans should read the report and where there are shortcoming to be corrected. He urged the leaders present to shy away from politics of division.

When Francis Atwoli took to the podium, he challenged the two leaders to work together with Raila Odinga for the success of the Mulembe nation. He urged the two to take a bold step and break their two parties Ford Kenya and ANC to form one party that is going to represent the interests of the Mulembe people a call that was also cheered by the crowd.

Aside from the prodigal sons drama another twist that showed during the event was opposition and government sharing the same table in agreement, that is NASA and JUBILEE, as a call for unity to all Kenyans. The western region leaders got the perfect opportunity to ask for inclusivity in the government and be given more seats in the government’s cabinet, stating that the only way to help their people is to be part of the government.

Cabinet Secretary Hon. Eugine Wamalwa gracing the accasion stated that there was economic evolution in BBI and assured the people that sugar farmers were not left behind and that the president had received the report from the sugar and maize task force that were headed by Kakamega Governor Wicliff Oparanya and Uasin Gishu Governor Jackson Mandago together with Trans nzoia Governor Patrick Khaemba and that the reports will be implemented.

He further stated that they will be back in the region very soon with Peter Munya, newly appointed Agriculture CS, to provide a turnaround strategy to revive the ailing sugar industry in the western region.

“Today is the day for BBI, I want to assure you that what’s included in the BBI, including revival of Mumias and Nzoia will not wait and will be implemented. The BBI report contains economic revolution that will see the country turn around its economy, farmers empowered, factories and industries opened that will see the young people get jobs,” he said.

Next week, focus shifts to the coastal regions as it is expected to host the BBI event. Will Musalia Mudavadi and Moses Wetangula grace the event? Only time will tell.

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