Luhya elders call for ceasefire between Wetang’ula, Wamunyinyi in Ford Kenya wrangles

Elders from the Western region have waded in the ongoing bickering within Ford Kenya party.

Through Western Kenya Region Council of Elders chairman Philip Masinde (above), they appealed to embattled Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula and his political nemesis Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi to bury the hatchet.

Wetang’ula is fighting to remain the Party Leader of Ford-K while Wamunyinyi and Tongaren MP Eseli Simiyu are hell-bent that the senator must be replaced.

Wetang’ula and Wamunyinyi were urged to withdraw the documents they deposited to the Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu on the change party’s leadership.

The former minister claimed at a news conference on Wednesday in Busia that there was a well organised plan by some forces to divide the region politically.

According to Masinde, some leaders from the former Western Province have already fallen into the trap to divide elected leaders from Mulembe nation.

“We recommend Wamunyinyi’s and Wetang’ula’s groups to swallow their pride and sit together or get a mediator so that they sort out their problems and differences as a family,” said Masinde.

He maintained that leadership wrangles being witnessed in Ford Kenya was painting Western in bad light.

Mr Masinde said at the moment there are two groups. One headed by Kakamega governor Wycliffe Oparanya, Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa and Cotu Secretary General Francis Atwoli; and on the led by Wetang’ula and Amani National Congress Party leader Musalia Mudavadi.

“Our leaders are not pulling together and they cannot when one group excludes the other but both claim to be working for the unity and development of the people of Western Kenya region,” said Masinde.

He continued: “Let leaders from the two factions put aside their personal interests, swallow their pride and talk to each other for the sake of unity and prosperity of Luhya people.”

Oparanya and Wamalwa were appointed at the meeting that was held in Kajiado to be spokesmen of the Western region.

The two have had meetings with elders from Bukusu, Sabaot, Teso where they were endorsed to serve as the mouthpiece of Luhya community.