Minister for Justice and Constitutional Affairs Eugene Wamalwa when he met the opinion leaders from Busia county during a consultative meeting. Photo | Frankline Bwire | West Fm

JUSTICE Minister Eugene Wamalwa has ruled out any move to initiate talks with Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi aimed at having leaders nursing presidential ambitions from Western Province to rally behind one candidate.

Terming Mudavadi’s latest gesture as coming too late in the day, Wamalwa said that he was the first person to approach Mudavadi in the year 2010 with a proposal to unify the Luhya community behind one presidential candidate but the Sabatia Mp flatly turned him down.

Speaking at the burial of retired teacher Christopher Nangendo at Kuywa village in Sirisia Constituency, the Saboti Mp announced that his quest to run for the presidency of this country is irreversible.

“I remember pleading with my colleague Musalia way back in 2010 over the same topic he’s propagating now but he flatly told me that he will remain in ODM and back Prime-Minister Raila Odinga for the presidency. We are late for such talks,” said Wamalwa.

Addressing this year’s Madaraka Day celebrations at Masinde Muliro stadium in Bungoma town on Friday, Mudavadi announced that he will initiate talks with Wamalwa and other presidential hopefuls from the Luhya community in order to have them support his presidential bid.

Mudavadi has declared interest in the top seat on a United Democratic Front (UDF) party while Wamalwa was recently endorsed by the New Ford-Kenya National Executive Council (NEC) to run for the seat on the party’s ticket. Other candidates from the region include Trade Minister Moses Wetang’ula, Lands Assistant Minister Bifwoli Wakoli and Lugari Mp Cyrus Jirongo.

Wamalwa also took time to explain the reason why he attended Uhuru Kenyatta’s The National Alliance (TNA) party launch in which his remarks were construed to mean that he had endorsed Uhuru’s candidature.

"Get it here and now that the name of Eugene Ludovic Wamalwa will be on the ballot for the presidency of this country come the next general elections and I hereby assure you that I have not endorsed anyone, neither will I do such a thing,” said Wamalwa.

On the raging debate over the date for the next general elections, the minister said that it is only the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) that has the powers to set such a date contrary to reports in a section of the media indicating that certain individuals were conniving to push the date to August next year.

“If the IEBC or a court of law has not altered the date, I urge Kenyans not to believe such misleading reports because the election date, as at present, still remains the 4th of March 2013,” stressed the minister.

Present at the burial were Bungoma County Council Chairman Meshack Simiyu, a host of civic leaders and West Fm Chairman Dr George Sirengo Masafu.

Speaking in Busia town during a consultative meeting with the opinion leaders, said he was still in the race with no intention of surrendering to anyone.

Wamalwa dismissed claims that several presidential candidates from western province are likely to divide the western vote.

Wamalwa said Luhya voters are mature and would likely vote for the best candidates among them who will address issues affect them.

“The Luhya people are mature enough politically to be able to choose which amongst the candidates has the best chances of making it to the ballot box and one who has a realistic chance of winning,” he said.

Speaking in Busia town during a consultative meeting with the opinion leaders, Wamalwa who is the minister for Justice and Constitutional affairs said he was still in the race with no intention of surrendering to anyone.

“I have no intention of retreating or surrendering to anyone. I am prepared to go to the ballot for the sake of bringing about transformative change in this nation.”

Wamalwa who was accompanied by the chairman of the Luhya council of elders Patrick Wangamati called on the electorates to elect leaders with the best network across the country in terms of working with other regions and also ones who will address issues affecting them.

Appeal to women in Busia County

He urged women in Busia County to stand in the forefront in effort to ensure the new constitution is implemented fully.

“And to do that as women you must participate in the civic education exercise which is vital,” said the minister, adding that they should take advantage of the elective positions under the devolved structure to participate in the leadership of the county.