There was a standoff during the second Building Bridges Initiative sensitization drive in Bukhungu, Kakamega after Ford Kenya Party leader Moses Wetangula refused to give his speech protesting protocol breach.
It all began when the master of ceremony Senator Cleophas Malala invited his colleague to address the gathering on Saturday before the guest speakers had given their speeches.
However, Wetang’ula opted to remain seated indicating he should address the crowd after the other guest speakers.
The confusion lasted for about three minutes after which Malala consulted Governor Wycliffe Oparanya and apparently advised him to call other county chiefs instead.
It was after the governors spoke that the former National Super Alliance co-principal accepted to speak and used the opportunity to warn against turning BBI into a tool to play selfish politics.
“Every opinion counts and let’s not be tempted to go the direction of thinking that if I don’t agree with you then I am against you. We can always see things differently. The centrepiece of BBI is born of electoral malpractice, electoral injustice and lack of integrity of elections, now that we are here, we must put the people of Kenya the centre of BBI,” he said.
Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi and his Ford-Kenya counterpart Moses Wetang’ula made a surprise appearance at the event as they were expected to attend another parallel meeting planned by DP Ruto allies.
The duo entered the stadium at 12:30 pm shortly after Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga arrived.
Central Organisation of Trade Unions Secretary-General Francis Atwoli has called out on the two leaders on allegations of deceiving each other.
He challenged them to bring unity in the western region by breaking their respective parties to form one political party that will serve the interest of the people of the western region.