Kakamega deputy governor Ayub Savula addressing mourners during the funeral of the late Benjamin Mangeni , father to Bunyala West MCA Sebastian Mangeni in Navakholo on Saturday/IMAGE /HILTON OTENYOLuhya leaders opposed to President William Ruto’s re-election have been asked to declare their candidature for the presidency and stop hiding behind the United Opposition.
Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula challenged DAP-K party leader Eugene Wamalwa to declare his bid for the top seat rather than opposing the community’s support for Ruto’s re-election without providing an alternative.
Savula, who was DAP-K’s deputy party leader before he defected to the ruling UDA early in the year, said the Luhya community is ready to support Ruto in the 2027 General Election since they have no candidate on the ballot.
“We have our son Ruto from Rift Valley here who has done a lot of development for us, and we are ready to support him as a neighbour. Let Wamalwa and embattled ODM Secretary General Edwin Sifuna tell us what our alternative is,” Savula said.
“We know that Ruto is defending his seat, and you, Wamalwa and Sifuna, tell us if you are going for the presidency or not," Savula added.
Wamalwa, Sifuna and Trans-Nzoia Governor George Natembeya are key Luhya leaders in the opposition currently.
None of them has declared interest in the presidency so far. Natembeya has since declared that he will be defending his governor's seat come 2027.
This leaves the populous community with the option of either supporting Ruto or the yet-to-be-decided united opposition candidate.
Savula was speaking during the burial of Benjamin Mang’eni in West Bunyala, Navakholo, on Saturday. The burial service was also attended by Wamalwa and area MP Emmanuel Wangwe.
He said that ODM Leader Dr Oburu Odinga and Chairperson Gladys Wanga had dropped ambition for Deputy Presidency under the broad-based government and will defend their seats as Senator and Governor respectively.
Wamalwa said he is one of the united opposition candidates and that negotiations on the flag bearer are still ongoing.
“We are a team and we also invite Sifuna to join us to beat President Ruto in 2027,” Wamalwa added.
Wamalwa announced the joint opposition team will visit western region next week. The joint opposition team comprise of Rigathi Gachagua of DCP, Fred Matiangi (Jubilee), Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper) and Martha Karua.
Wamalwa said the United Opposition had officially invited Sifuna to join the joint team. Wangwe said Ruto should be respected for the development he has done in the constituency.
