ANC leader Musalia Mudavadi will on Friday face the moment of truth as bigwigs assemble in his backyard to endorse ODM boss Raila Odinga.
The two are locked in a bitter fight for control of the Luhya votes. Their political feud is set to hit fever pitch on Friday.
Regional big guns and national political heavyweights are expected to back Raila's presidential bid during a rally in Bukhungu Stadium.
This will leave Mudavadi with limited options as the 2022 contest takes shape.
The mega rally dubbed 'Bukhungu declaration' is being spearheaded by Cotu secretary general Francis Atwoli who has declared his support for Raila.
The rally has been fronted as an Azimio La Umoja meeting for the people of Western.
A final declaration of Raila Tosha at the heart of Mudavadi's turf will be a major blow to the ANC boss, but a great boost for the ODM leader in his bid to consolidate Western Kenya.
In what could be another setback for Mudavadi, there are reports that Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, who is a Raila confidante, could be installed as the Luyha nation spokesman.
Mudavadi has been the region's political mouthpiece and supremo since his installation in the lead-up to the 2017 elections.
On Thursday, cracks emerged in Mudavadi's camp after some of his allies vowed to attend the Bukhungu rally.
ANC deputy party leader and Lugari MP Ayub Savula said he will attend the meeting but stressed the need for Raila to hold his horses in sidelining Musalia.
“We are likely to attend the meeting and tell Raila Odinga that now that he has declared Azimio a movement and declared himself a candidate, he should wait for negotiations if that is what he wants because we as ANC have not even held our NDC. What’s the hurry?” Savula asked.
The MP said the outcome of the vote on the proposed amendment to the Political Parties Act would determine whether MPs allied to Oka will attend the meeting or not.
“We had clear instructions from our party leader that we support the amendment as long as the period within which coalitions parties should be in place is reduced from six to three months. We negotiated for four months,” he said.
Mudavadi is in the One Kenya Alliance with Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Gideon Moi (Kanu) and Moses Wetang'ula of Ford Kenya.
The team has vowed to go all the way to the ballot as the country's 'Third Force' to face Raila and Deputy President William Ruto.
On Sunday, Atwoli said Mudavadi and other Oka partners had been invited to the meeting.
"Mudavadi is still the spokesperson for the Luhya community. So we are only interested to know who will be part of the next government. That is why we have invited him, Wetang'ula and other Oka principals who are our friends," he said.
By Thursday, it was not clear if Mudavadi would attend or not.
However, Mudavadi had earlier chided Atwoli over the meeting.
“Someone who is not seeking any votes wants to take to the podium to say who will be the MCA in which ward, MP in which constituency, the senator in which county and president in this country. Let the people decide,” he said in reference to Atwoli.
Khwisero MP Christopher Aseka said the meeting is good for the community and asked Mudavadi to make a decision.
“He must be worried about some of us who are cutting deals during the night and pretending to be together during the day. I made my Azimio on Boxing Day when I hosted Raila in Khwisero,” he said on the phone.
But Malava MP Malulu Injendi said although he had been approached to attend the Azimio group meeting, he will not show up.
He said the meeting has no meaning to the Luhya community and should just be ignored, whether it takes place or not.
“We should ask ourselves simple questions. After the meeting, so what? Atwoli was here at the same venue and date in 2016 and named Mudavadi as the community leader. What followed or what was the achievements to us as a community?” he told the Star on the phone Thursday.
He went on, “He is coming back again with the same narrative now disguised as Azimio. Of what use is it to us as a community? Kenyans are not fools."
The divisions could put Mudavadi on the horns of a political dilemma as the 2022 succession battle takes shape.
Mudavadi was the brains behind the 'Nasa Hao' slogan that nearly vanquished President Uhuru Kenyatta's reelection.
With only eight months to the next general election, there has been pressure for Mudavadi to join forces with Raila to take on DP Ruto.
However, Mudavadi has vowed to go all the way to the ballot, often alleging a sustained scheme by powerful forces to have opposition leaders support Raila's candidature.
The Bukhungu rally is also likely to define the political direction of the vote-rich region that has stuck with Raila in the last three general elections.
While Mudavadi considers Western his backyard, Raila has been supported by the region during the 2007, 2013, and 2017 general elections.
It has also emerged that Azimio grouping has been engaged in spirited efforts to lure a section of Mudavadi-allied MPs to join the Raila bandwagon ahead of the meeting.
Savula confirmed that he had been approached by Raila to join Azimio and promised him a direct ticket for the Kakamega governor race.
“It is true Raila has approached me and asked that I make up my mind by Friday but I told him that I’m in a party and cannot make a rash decision. We cannot just move for the sake of moving but we must move with the people,” he said.
Savula said he will assess all political formations before making a decision.
Mudavadi and Wetang’ula have dismissed the meeting and kept off its organisation.
Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala, who earlier on threatened to disrupt the meeting, has since said he has nothing to do with the meeting.
On Thursday, final touches were ongoing at Bukhungu Stadium.
