ODM party leader Raila Odinga has hit back at Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala over his earlier threat to halt the much anticipated Luhya community meeting at the Bhukungu Stadium.
Addressing the crowd of voters on Friday, Raila asked the Amani National Congress (ANC) party loudmouth to desist from using his ethnicity as an excuse for playing petty tribal politics with his people.
To properly drive his point home, the Nyanza region kingpin nicknamed him “Omondi” and explained to Malala that he is, in fact, more of a Luhya than him.
“Tell that Omondi that he is from Ugenya, his grandfather was buried in Ugenya, Siaya County while my grandfather is buried in Matungu, Kakamega, I am a Kenyan and the only Nabongo remaining,” Raila roared amid cheers from the crowd.
In an attempt to belittle the event organized by the Central Organization of Trade Unions (COTU) Secretary General Francis Atwoli, Malala, had on Sunday, December 26, vowed to block the former Prime Minister from holding the political rally at the Bukhungu Stadium.
At the time, the senator claimed that Raila ought to have received permission from Mudavadi so as to access the stadium.
These remarks landed the legislator in trouble with the National Cohesion and Integration Commission (NCIC), which immediately summoned him.
Malala, however, surrendered to authorities after the summons over his alleged inflammatory remarks.
The senator took himself to Kakamega Central Police Station.
He, thereafter, pledged to maintain peace, saying his Sunday remarks were purely political, and that he never meant to whip up emotions.
In a national declaration made by Western Region Elders, Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya was handed over the powers to negotiate on behalf of the Mulembe Nation, taking over from Musalia Mudavadi who was instilled to the same position in 2016.
The elders further resolved to mobilise the community to support and vote for the Former Prime Minister in the 2022 General Election.
