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Cracks widen in Cord as Wetangula, Oparanya squabble


In what could be the clearest hint yet that all isn’t well within opposition alliance Cord, Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya has publicly blasted Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula for utterances he allegedly made at the weekend.

In a press statement, Oparanya, who doubles up as ODM deputy party leader, has taken issue with Wetangula’s call to the Luhya community to join Ford Kenya and reject any politician who is not in the party.

Wetangula’s Ford Kenya is a member of Cord although the veteran politician, insists just like co-principals in the alliance, Kalonzo Musyoka and Raila Odinga, that he will vie for the Presidency next year.

This position is what seems to have angered Oparanya, who is a close confidant of Odinga.

“That statement goes against the spirit of the coalition and raises questions about Hon Wetangula’s commitment to Cord and why the coalition should back him when he is wrecking, undermining and weakening it from within,” Oparanya said.

PRESIDENTIAL AMBITION

“I also wish to remind Hon Wetangula that when the Luhya community rallied behind ODM leader Raila Odinga and Musalia Mudavadi and won elections in 2007, he is one of the people who teamed up with Mt Kenya colleagues to frustrate and steal that victory,” Oparanya added.

Oparanya further said that ODM’s stolen victory was the clearest path for the Luhya community to get the Presidency and that Raila would certainly have handed over power to Mudavadi whom he proceeded to make a Deputy Prime Minister under the Grand Coalition Government.

This new development come barely a fortnight after Wetangula launched his Presidential bid at Kakamega’s Muliro Gardens.

The event, which was snubbed by both Mr Odinga and Mr Oparanya, turned chaotic resulting in the death of atleast one person with a few others injured.

The Western region has traditionally backed the former Prime Minister at the expense of their own candidates.