Voters are to blame for divisive politics – Bungoma leaders

Political leaders from Bungoma county are now urging residents to shun divisive politics and embrace unity should they dream of prospering economically.

Former Bumula member of parliament Bifwoli Wakoli, called on residents to resist politicians who will want to use them for personal gains, saying at times the buck stops with voters in matters hate speech and divisive politics.

“Matters politics, folks. I could be affiliated to a certain political camp, and my brother [Wafula] Wamunyinyi to another, but I want to urge you; let us not fight because of politics. Contestants have no problem. The problem is you, our supporters and our agents whom we send at funerals to represent us…if I send you to represent me and hurl insults to my opponents, I won’t send you again – you’ll have disqualified yourself.”

He added, “politics must be about ideologies not about personalities.”

On his part, former Bungoma county assembly speaker John Makali Makali said the illusive unity in the region shall only be realized if incumbent leaders will preach politics of reconciliation rather than that of confrontation.

“Please leaders currently in leadership, let us preach politics of reconciliation and not politics of confrontation. If we preach politics of reconciliation, all of us will come together. All of us will work together for the benefit of this community.”

While responding to Kakamega MCAs led by majority leader Joel Ongoro, former Bungoma county women representative Reginalda Wanyonyi countered the MCAs sentiments that Western region should rally behind Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya.

Reginalda termed the call as selfishness, asking the MCAs to humble themselves.

“I have stood here and listened to fellow Luhya leaders talking. Kindly dear Luhya leaders who have come from Kakamega, leadership comes from God; leadership is not about selfishness… please be humble, humble yourselves and listen to the voices of the prophets…” She requested.

The leaders spoke on Saturday while attending the burial ceremony for former Bungoma Township mayor the late Eliud Wanyonyi, who was burred at his home in Musikoma ward, Bungoma county.

Earlier, Mr. Ongoro had urged residents to support Oparanya whom he said will be done by his second and final term as governor come 2022, and will be going for “higher politics.”

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Antony Nyongesa
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