Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti has urged the Luo community to support Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s 2027 presidential bid.
Ndeti said as the Kamba community they have supported ODM leader Raila Odinga presidential bid and now they need the same support from Raila's backyard for their son Kalonzo in 2027.
“Unajua sisi kama jamii ya Wakamba tumessupport Baba sana, 15 years while behind you (Luos) na hiyo miaka kumi na tano Raila alipata kura mingi hata kushinda constituencies zingine hapa ujaluoni. I can give you the figures because I have them,” Ndeti said.
She addressed mourners during a burial ceremony at Ng’iya in Alego, Siaya county on Saturday.
The Machakos county CEO was hosted by her Siaya counterpart James Orengo, a seasonal politician and Raila’s longtime confidante.
Ndeti added, “Mimi nataka kuwaambia Kalonzo Musyoka ameamua kuomba kiti cha urais. Kwa hivyo sasa, nyinyi ni marafiki zetu. Kujeni hata nyinyi mtembee na sisi. 15 years of sacrificing. When I was campaigning for Raila, I was a young girl, now I’m a mature woman.”
“Tunawaomba tafadhali hata nyinyi msimame na sisi, Kalonzo kwa sababu we have been faithful to you and it’s also good to be faithful to us."
Orengo in a quick rejoinder said Kenyans should focus on resolving constitutional, structural and elections challenges.
“Wavinya umenena, Kalonzo ni rafiki yangu lakini kwa sasa turudishe hii maneno nyuma kidogo. Tutafute mbinu kwa sababu kwa sasa hata mahali Kalonzo anatembea, Kioni anasema yeye anataka Matiang’i Wamalwa pia anataka," Orengo said.
"So, being in that group, you are all divided. Leave Raila alone, he is leading a national movement. But if we can’t resolve the problems; the constitutional problem, the structural problems including those about the elections, tutakua na tabu, matatizo,” Orengo said.
Safina Party leader and former 2022 presidential candidate Jimi Wanjigi said political unity in the country shouldn’t be based on tribal lines.
“We have no problem coming together with anybody, but it must be coming together on the issues that are affecting the public, not tribalism. Tribal inclusion is a thing of the past and is passed with events,” Wanjigi said.
“We are coming together on the issues that are disturbing the nation including hard economic times,”
