CORD and Jubilee leaders went toe to toe with each other as each side tried to woe supporters in Trans Nzoia county. CORD principal Moses Wetangula, who is also a Ford Kenya party leader tried to get the support of Trans Nzoia Women Rep. Janet Nangabo, with the intentions of forming a strong partnership ahead of the next general elections.
Wetangula urged her to join him in Ford Kenya and form a formidable alliance and trounce the ruling coalition of jubilee, urging all leaders from the region to come together and back him in his quest for the presidency come 2017. “I urge you Mama County to join me in Ford Kenya so that you provide the impetus required ahead of next general elections and we move as a team to defeat the present government under President Uhuru Kenyatta and deputy William Ruto,” said Wetangula.
He said he was working with other leaders outside the region to secure backing, adding he has learnt that trying to get the top job alone is difficult and that he needs other tribes to support him in the quest for the leadership of the nation. He revealed that he has reached out to Musalia Mudavadi who is the ANC leader and they are in discussions to make sure they unite ahead of the general elections.
He said the three co-principals Raila Odinga ,him, and Kalonzo Musyoka will battle it out to get a presidential contestant for the coalition, adding that he was optimistic he will win the ticket that will catapult him to face off with president Uhuru Kenyatta in the next General elections.
Earlier on, Trans Nzoia Women Representative Janet Nangabo had requested Wetangula to abandon the CORD coalition and join Jubilee, saying the CORD Principal Raila Odinga can’t be trusted and he was only using him in order to gain votes from the larger Luhya region. “I want to tell you mheshimiwa, Raila is using you wrongly, he shouldn’t be trusted and he will abandon you in the future when the right time comes,” said Nangabo.
She said the region was first to support Raila and his father, but when his turn came to support the Western region he didn’t, but instead went ahead and formed his party and contested for the presidency in 2007. She promised to support the Ford Kenya leader if the ODM leader will support him but if not, she won’t support him, urging residents to vote for Jubilee Party.
She told residents to have confidence in the ruling coalition as it has shown interest in supporting several projects from the region ranging from infrastructure. She added that other projects that had stalled were going to be revived, as well as giving charters to several universities including Kibabii and plans were under way to give Kaimosi a charter.
She, however, told Jubilee party chairman who was present, Noah Wekesa, to make sure that the party he was forming accommodates all tribes, given that secluding some tribes will be disastrous to the party. On his part, Dr Wekesa supported his involvement with the new Jubilee party that is scheduled to be unveiled soon, saying his wish was for the country to have one political party that will accommodate all the people of the country and do away with tribal parties that only lead to hostilities in the country.
He called upon the Trans Nzoia residents to support the new party by voting for it in large numbers so that the country moves forward as one, saying the party under President Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto will win the next general elections. He assured all the aspirants of free and fair nominations during the exercise of picking contestants for various positions refuting claims of a possible fall out after nominations.