The mega Kakamega rally that was set to take place on Saturday was called off last minute after Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli called Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader Musalia Mudavadi explaining the meeting’s agenda.
According to reports by The Standard, Mudavadi only learnt of the rally on Thursday evening after Atwoli disclosed to him that it would be used to bash the Ruto-allied MPs.
The Cotu boss also wanted Mudavadi to call a truce between ANC leadership and embattled Nominated MP Godfrey Osotsi, who faces suspension from the party.
However, Mudavadi declined to be roped in the event since it would have softened grounds for Osotsi and have him coerced to not allow his party to take further action on the legislator.
Former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth and nominated MP Maina Kamanda also tried to convince the ANC party leader to attend the meeting but their efforts bore no fruits.
The rally had been organised by the ‘Kieleweke’ team, which comprises leaders supporting the handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga and opposed to the ‘Tanga Tanga’ team, which backs Deputy President William Ruto’s 2022 presidential quest.
Back in Kakamega, a well organised publicity campaign for the rally by Senator Cleophas Malala’s team had made tours across the county, rallying residents to attend.
On Thursday morning, Osotsi, accompanied by Malala, held a media briefing where he stated that he would not appeal the High Court ruling that stayed the decision by ANC to dethrone him of the party’s secretary general position.
On Friday evening, Malala called a press briefing where he stated that he had been compelled to postpone the event since it had generated a lot of interest and more leaders from across the political divide wanted to be a part of it.
According to him, over 80 MPs from Central, Coast, Western and other parts of the country had confirmed their attendance, signifying the rally’s importance to the entire nation.
