Gor Semelang'o joins Kalonzo Musyoka's WPF top organ

Kenyan businessman and former chairman of the Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF) Gor Semelang'o joins Wiper Patriotic Front.[Courtesy]

Kenyan businessman and former chairman of the Youth Enterprise Development Fund (YEDF) Gor Semelang'o is among new leaders who joined the Wiper Patriotic Front this week. He joined the rebranded party (formerly Wiper Democratic Movement) as part of the National Executive Council (NEC).

Unveiled at the party headquarters Nairobi, the investor with interests in oil said he believed in the Wiper vision to create a united Kenya.

"The Wiper Patriotic Front's vision is to create a united Kenya by combating socio-economic inequalities, corruption, bad governance, and negative ethnicity, while promoting equality, justice, peace, freedom, and an equitable distribution of resources through democratic principles. I am in particular drawn by the fact that the party aims to foster a social democratic society where disadvantaged communities and groups are not marginalize," Semelang'o said.

"With Kalonzo at the helm, we are sure of safety of our children and an economy that works for everyone, an enabling business environment and zero tolerance to corruption," he said.

And welcoming him, the party leader Kalonzo Musyoka said the party was looking forward to Semelang'o's contribution particularly in youth development and media engagement. He praised him for his involvement in youth advocacy and leadership in the country.

"I was glad to join Wiper Patriotic Front National Executive Council (NEC) members at our Nairobi headquarters today. I'm quite excited with the direction we are heading in. Our front is getting stronger and I'm pleased that Gor Semelang'o has officially joined us. We look forward to his contribution particularly in youth development and media engagement," Kalonzo said.

The move comes barely a month since the party rebranded positioning itself as a national political outfit that would attract more youthful following in the wake of the Gen Z political awakening.

Gor was appointed chairman of the Board of the Youth Enterprise Development Fund in 2013, a government fund that aim to support young Kenyans by providing loans to registered groups with a high proportion of members between the ages of 18 and 35.

In 2014, Semelang'o attempted to contest in the Mathare constituency by-election. The High Court barred him saying he did not vacate his public office - as Youth Development Fund chair - within six months before the poll.