THOSE eyeing the presidency from Western province should back one candidate in 2017, Kakamega Senator Bonnie Khalwale has said.
Khalwale was responding to a declaration by Bungoma Ssenator Moses Wetang’ula that he will run for presidency in the 2017 general election.
Khalwale said it is premature for politicians to start declaring interest in the 2017 presidency.
“Having a presidential candidate from the Luhya community can only be achieved through negotiations,” said Khalwale on the phone yesterday.
He warned youthful MPs from Western province not to appoint Wetang’ula as the community’s spokesman as that will polarise the community farther.
Amani leader Musalia Mudavadi and Federal Party of Kenya leader Cyrus Jirongo have said they will contest presidency in the next general election.
“The late Oginga Odinga, Kijana Wamalwa, Raila Odinga, William Ruto and even Uhuru Kenyatta were not installed but emerged on their own,” he said.
Khalwale said that the issue of Luhya unity was delicate and should not be used to belittle other leaders from the region.
Wetangula declared last weekend that he will be contesting the presidency in 2017. In effect, he will challenge Cord leader Raila Odinga and Co-principal Kalonzo Musyola.
Khalwale said that those readying themselves to become spokesman of the community or presidential candidate at the next elections have no shortcut but work hard at national politics.
“We shall only accept one to be our spokesman if we are sure that he can take a seat at the national level. Let us leave county politics,” he said.
– the-star.co.ke
