By Stephen Makabila
The seventh memorial service for former Vice-President Michael Kijana Wamalwa tomorrow is viewed as distinctly different, coming amid a notable clamour for political unity in his native Western Province.
The occasion, being marked a few days to the promulgation of the new Constitution, some say, also serves as a great honour for a man who was among the 2003 National Rainbow Coalition leader, who had promised Kenyans new laws in a record 100 days of coming to power.
As ministers and MPs from Western Province troop to Kitale town for the occasion, the question is whether the regional unity exhibited during the referendum vote, where Western went 'green', would be sustained ahead of the 2012 General Election.
On August 4, the region was united in voting 'Yes', only reminiscent of the 2002 General Election when Wamalwa delivered 22 of 24 constituencies in the province to Narc, before his death eight months later.
In 2002 when Wamalwa championed Western unity only Mt Elgon and Nambale constituencies were worn by non-Narc candidates in a wave in which Musalia Mudavadi, then Vice-President, lost his Sabatia seat.
Political observers are drawing parallels between 2002 and August 4, where only Mt Elgon went to 'No' while the remaining 23 constituencies voted 'Yes'.
This time, the results are attributed to joint efforts that galvanised support across the province.
"When Wamalwa died, Luhyas who were then united split politically. We want to sustain the unity of the referendum vote by working together. I am ready to closely promote this with Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi and other leaders," says Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa, the former VP's brother.
Mudavadi is among key leaders invited to grace the memorial, among them, Water Minister Charity Ngilu.
Mrs Ngilu was a political ally of Wamalwa in the National Alliance Party of Kenya wing of Narc in 2003.
"We have invited all ministers and MPs from Western Province and other parts of the country," said Eugene.
Eugene went on: "People should watch the Western block as we approach 2012 General Election because as leaders, we have realised the need to speak with one voice."
He said that while political alliances would arise as Kenyans head to 2012, sustained unity would decide how Western benefits from the Kibaki Succession.
One voice
"My brother wanted a united Western where the community speaks with one voice. I am ready to take the same route, alongside other leaders," added Eugene.
Already, Eugene and three ministers are fronting for a formidable unity of the Luhya, for a better bargain for the presidency.
Ministers Noah Wekesa (Forestry), Moses Wetangula (Foreign Affairs), and Soita Shitanda (Housing) a few weeks ago vowed to stop use of burials to wash their dirty linen.
Former minister Burudi Nabwera has been mandated to initiate dialogue and reconcile leaders, besides steering Luhya talks to enhance their unity ahead of the 2012 General Election. Apart from promoting Western unity, Wamalwa is remembered for keeping the troubled Narc in the Ninth Parliament together, even though it was short-lived. The culmination was the battle between President Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga, who fought off in a hotly contested 2007 presidential poll that turned tragic, claiming the lives of about 1,300 people.
The frosty relationship between the two began in 2003 soon after Narc came to power.
Wamalwa was the pillar that held Narc together and the coalition literally disintegrated after he died.
"I want us to be frank with each other, not to be clever with each other by playing some cards above the table while hiding dangerous ones below," he told a retreat of Narc MPs at the Mt Kenya Safari Club in Nanyuki in 2003.
Wamalwa had further observed: "I'm beginning to feel some disquiet among the Kenyan people. I'm beginning to feel power may be getting into our heads and subverting our noble goals. I'm beginning to feel we may run the danger of losing our main aim."
True to his fear, things fell apart for the Narc coalition in 2005, two years after his death, when that year's referendum divided the Government. Raila-led 'Oranges' trounced Kibaki's 'Bananas'.
The result was the death of the Narc coalition and the birth of the Government of National Unity (GNU) that sustained Kibaki in power until the bungled 2007 presidential election.
Political fires
The former VP had it easy in containing political fires because he enjoyed a personal relationship and history with the two principals of the current coalition.
Wamalwa consulted and interacted frequently with the two and, accordingly better placed sources, enjoyed good relations with them.
In the Narc Government, Wamalwa belonged to the same NAK wing as Kibaki. The two had worked closely for two years, alongside Ngilu before signing up with the Rainbow Alliance to form Narc.
The PM had also worked closely with Wamalwa in Ford-Kenya and as crusaders of the 'second liberation in the early 1990s, then christened 'Young Turks'.
Former Ford-Kenya chairman Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, Raila's father, was also a friend of Wamalwa, with whom they formed the party. It was after Jaramogi's death that Wamalwa took over Ford-Kenya leadership.
Source: The Standard | Online Edition
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