Raila Odinga Mediates Between Peter Salasya And Governor Barasa Days After Near Fist-Fight

• Kakamega county has lately been a theatre of political animosity, which has at some point escalated to fist-fights as the elected leaders differ on issues pertinent to the region
• Mumias East MP Peter Salasya was recently captured throwing blows in an event Governor Fernandes Barasa had attended, the duo differing on the politics around Mumias Sugar
• Azimio La Umoja leader Raila Odinga took it upon himself to end their differences as he counselled them to cooperate to the advantage of their respective electorate

Eli Odaga, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over three years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Kakamega - Azimio La Umoja leader Raila Odinga moved to broker a truce between a section of elected leaders who have not been seeing eye to eye in the county.

Mumias East MP Peter Salasya has been rivals with Governor Fernandes Barasa, who has in turn not been on good terms with Kakamega woman representative Elsie Muhanda.

Also in the chain of political animosity has been Matungu MP Peter Nabulindo.

Playing a mediator, Raila asked the leaders to shelve their differences and work together to the advantage of their respective subjects.

Salasya's fight against Barasa dates months back when the lawmaker accused the governor of suppressing efforts to revive the Mumias Sugar Company.

During President William Ruto's meeting with the Western region's leaders at Kakamega State Lodge in August, the lawmaker did not hold back, tearing into Barasa's leadership and conduct.

Salasya accused Barasa of presenting his own opinions as the resolutions made by legislators from Kakamega

He observed that Mumias Sugar was within his constituency and had front-row seats in the troubles sugar cane farmers were facing.

"The reason why I have stood here is that during the meeting with this governor the other day, we as the MPs here in Kakamega didn't come to an understanding and said the resolutions that whoever speaks will say this. That's why I left there and came to speak because Mumias East is where Mumias Sugar originates from," he said amid cheers.

Will sugar conference help Mumias?

The lawmaker dismissed Barasa's plans to have a sugar conference in the region to address the once-thriving sector's issues.

"This governor has deceived you. What he's telling you about the sugar conference; the conference will not address the problems of Mumias Sugar. We need to be honest about this," he said.

However, Salasya lauded National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula for helping bring sanity into the sugar industry.