[SIZE=6]Musila leads 3,000 Ukambani leaders to Uhuru camp ahead of October 17 vote[/SIZE]
Sep. 09, 2017, 3:00 pm
By EMMANUEL WANJALA @rambsnabiswa
Former Kitui senator David Musila on Saturday led a team of politicians from Machakos, Kitui, and Makueni counties in endorsing President Uhuru Kenyatta’s reelection.
The lot, which comprised of about 3,000 politicians from the three regions, resolved to ditch the Opposition in favour of Uhuru who is facing Raila Odinga of NASA on October 17.
The lower Eastern is considered a NASA stronghold having largely voted for Raila during the August 8 general election.
The group said they are tired of being in the opposition and that they will now aggressively campaign for Uhuru throughout Ukambani and ensure he wins the repeat election.
“We strongly condemn leaders who want to continue keeping us in the opposition despite the fact that they did not achieve much for the community when they were in power.”
The leaders said this after a meeting of the Kamba Leaders Forum in Athi River on Saturday.
Majority of lower eastern’s elected leaders are leaning towards NASA’s affiliate party Wiper which is led by former vice president Kalonzo Musyoka.
Kalonzo is the NASA deputy presidential candidate.
“We declare that Ukambani is no longer an Opposition zone and that we the Kamba people vehemently refuse to be used as pawns in other people’s perennial failed quest for power,” they said.
The leaders echoed growing calls to the IEBC to put its house in order and prepare efficiently to ensure a credible outcome of the October 17 fresh elections.
The mass walk-out from the Opposition by the leaders was endorsed among others, a section of Jubilee elected MPs.
They included Rachel Nyamai (Kitui South) Nimrod Mbai (Kitui East), and Victor Munyaka (Machakos Town).