Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga is scheduled to hold an impromptu meeting at COTU Secretary-General Francis Atwoli's Kajiado home after Kakamega funeral drama.
A report by The Standard indicated that the meeting which is set to take place on Sunday, June 7, is expected to amalgamate Luhya leaders and explore ways to hand them more committee roles in the National Assembly and the Senate.
Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi and his Ford Kenya counterpart are also reportedly invited to the meeting but it is still unclear if the two will attend.
The meeting comes after a clash between ANC leaders and those of Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) during the burial of Lugari MP Ayub Savula’s father, Arthur Angatia, at Manyonyi in Kakamega on Saturday, June 6.
ODM party members refuted claims that their leader, Raila, was using a section of Western leaders to undermine Mudavadi and Wetangula as earlier purported.
Speaking at the event, Siaya Senator James Orengo stated that the party was ready to work with the two leaders to boost unity.
“We are one big family and we would like to work together with everyone; be it COTU Secretary General Francis Atwoli, Mudavadi and Wetang’ula.
“The most important thing is for Kenyans to remain united. I cannot watch as Kenyans are subjected to sufferings by anyone including the government or any state organ,” stated Orengo before noting that two meetings were in the pipeline at Atwoli's home.
Savula revealed that three leaders from Western Kenya, MPs Bernard Shinali (Ikolomani), Busia Woman Representative Florence Mutua and Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi, have been picked to assume committee roles in Parliament.
“When Benjamin Washiali (Mumias East) was removed as majority chief whip, we ensured his position was filled by Emmanuel Wangwe (Navakholo).
“We have those who have been in positions, but did nothing to address challenges facing our people,” stated the lawmaker.
This comes just days after Raila and Atwoli were accused of instigating the ouster of Wetangula as Ford Kenya's head.
Mudavadi claimed that Atwoli was working with a leader from the National Super Alliance (NASA) to dominate other political parties and maintained that he stood with Wetangula.
Atwoli, however, issued a statement distancing himself from the party's wrangles noting, "I have nothing to do with what is happening in Ford-K and Amani National Congress. My party is KANU and I shouldn’t be dragged into local parties belonging to fence-sitters who have no idea of what is happening in Kenya."
