ODM Senators on Thursday attempted to remove Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula as Minority Leader and replace him with his Siaya counterpart James Orengo.
This showed cracks in the NASA coalition which includes Ford Kenya, ANC, ODM and Wiper Party.
Former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale on Friday stated that the attempted ouster will significantly reduce NASA leader Raila Odinga's popularity in the Western region.
[caption caption="Boni Khalwale"]
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Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, the vocal politician stated that all problems started when Odinga met President Uhuru Kenyatta at Harambee House.
"Raila's meeting with President Kenyatta showed us that ODM was reneging on NASA's presidential agreement that it would not field a candidate in 2022.
"Wetangula is not the leader of minority of ODM. He is the leader of minority of NASA.
"The attempted move by ODM senators to oust him was wrong. This basically shifts the balance of support (for Odinga) in western to ANC and Ford Kenya," he remarked.
Khalwale further gave examples of how ODM was losing popularity in the region; citing Bungoma, Trans Nzoia, Vihiga and Kakamega counties where ODM has less than five Members of Parliament.
"Odinga got almost 95 percent support from western in the last election. This will definitely change," he reiterated.
He maintained that the region would play a crucial role in determining the next president but remarked that 'the horizon is much clearer.'
When asked about Wetangula's next move after the Senate embarrassment, the former senator divulged that ANC, Wiper and Ford Kenya leaders had met on Friday and would announce the way forward in a few days.
[caption caption="Moses Wetangula"]
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Khalwale's sentiments were echoed by ANC Deputy Party leader Kipruto Arap Kirwa who predicted political realignments in the coming days.
"I know Wetangula is a person with 9 political lives. He will survive and he may be in a different political configuration that is going be a problem to NASA as it is constituted.
"Demographics show that the Luyha nation is going to be the largest voting bloc in Kenya in the next elections, hence you cannot wish away Wetangula or Mudavadi," he stated on Friday.
