Allies nervous as Ford parties moot reunion

By Stephen Makabila

Leaders of New Ford-Kenya and Ford-Kenya say they are determined to ensure their new unity is sustained.

But as the two parties work out modalities of working together, there is resistance from ‘political brokers’ on the two sides.

While New Ford-Kenya presidential aspirant Eugene Wamalwa and Ford-Kenya party leader Moses Wetangula pledged to work together, it has emerged the two are fighting off attempts by their allies to frustrate the bid.

Last weekend, the two leaders and Forestry Minister Noah Wekesa, Assistant Minister Wakoli Bifwoli, Nominated MP Musikari Kombo, Kimilili MP Eseli Simiyu, and Lugari’s Cyrus Jirongo launched a drive to unite the Luhya.

They vowed to endorse a single presidential candidate from the region in the General Election.

Latest resolve

The leaders, who spoke at the burial of Bukusu spiritual leader John Manguliechi in Kimilili, Bungoma County, had also resolved to enjoin other leaders from the region in their latest resolve.

Jirongo, who has differed with Eldoret North MP William Ruto in the United Republican Party, announced he would join a new political outfit to be formed after the re-unification of Ford-Kenya and New Ford-Kenya. He said Nambale MP Chris Okemo would also join the new outfit.

Wakoli, however, told The Standard On Sunday that Wamalwa and Wetangula have been going through difficult times since the unity pledge was made, adding some of their key allies had wanted to foster differences between the two for personal, political and financial gains.

The Bumula MP pointed out political brokers close to Wamalwa and Wetangula were causing problems and holding back talks.

“We are cautioning political brokers to keep off or we will name and shame them,” Wakoli told The Standard On Sunday.

Even before Wakoli’s revelations, Wetangula had also cautioned against brokers coming in to frustrate their unity bid, saying elected leaders should be left to agree politically for the interest of the public.

During last weekend’s burial, Wekesa announced talks fronted by him, regional Development Minister Fred Gumo and Wakoli will unite the leaders.

After the burial, the group retreated to a Webuye hotel where Wamalwa, Wetangula, Eseli, Jirongo and Wakoli had lunch. A follow up meeting was held in Eldoret where Wakoli gave an assurance that Wamalwa and Wetangula had opened up and are genuine in their latest unity push.

“There are issues that have to be sorted out but if there is a strong will by the leaders, then the unity dream could be achieved,” said Dr Juma Mukhwana, a Wamalwa strategist.

Meanwhile, a New Ford-Kenya National Executive Council (NEC) meeting that was to be held last Thursday, and which was to be used to welcome some officials joining the party, was put off for the second time. “NEC was pushed ahead to give room to more people keen on joining the party to prepare. We want to make it a bigger event,” added Mukhwana, who is also as the National Organising Secretary.

Party Secretary General Benjamin Muema says names of those out to join the party would be known come the NEC.

According to Wetangula, the unity initiative between the two parties was on course and that it was in the interest of Western Province that leaders in the region unite.

Word of caution

Wakoli hinted two rallies would be held in a week to cement the union. But even as the Wamalwa-Wetangula axis navigates around the unity issue, a section of councillors from Western Province have thrown word of caution to the two for allegedly excluding Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi.

Wetangula had castigated Mudavadi for playing lone-ranger style of politics in the region and warned the Sabatia MP that he risked being sidelined.

“Let Mudavadi not talk to me as an individual, Wamalwa as an individual or Jirongo as an individual because that will be wasting his precious time. We want to talk and walk as a family, as a community and as a team,” said Wetangula.

The Sirisia MP warned Mudavadi would face oblivion if he fails to jump into the bandwagon formed to unite Western leaders.

More than 50 councillors from Bungoma and Busia counties welcomed the unity bid but said Mudavadi should be part of the plan if Wetangula and Wamalwa wanted to make any headway.

Bungoma councillors led by Jack Wambulwa Makhanu said the elusive Luhya unity should not be used by leaders to satisfy their selfish political needs.

“While we celebrate the unity of purpose exhibited by our leaders, it will be futile to say we are uniting the community yet at the same time, sidelining Mudavadi who is the senior-most leader from this community,” said Makhanu.

“Let us be genuine when we say we want to unite. We should not hide in unity initiatives to seek political leverage against others,”

Bungoma County UDF chairman John Chikati said. Maseno University lecturer Martin Mulwale said open and genuine unity for leaders from the region could boost their bargaining power.