With barely eleven months left to the next general elections, political leaders from Jubilee and CORD coalitions are putting in place modalities to win voters in the former Western province and parts of North Rift region.
Politicians from the ruling Jubilee coalition are especially from New Ford Kenya are moving in earnest to convince the voters to switch allegiance from their former party that is on the dissolution bed to the new Jubilee party that they intend to use as their political vehicle in 2017.
Speaking at the funeral of Mzee Francis Kutitila Sichangi 92 in Milembe village of Sirisia constituency, Trans Nzoia woman member of national assembly Janet Nangabo and leader of majority in the county assembly of Trans Nzoia Alfred Weswa had rough time convincing the mourners to support their new move to join the new party that is to be used by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto in their bid to secure a second and last one for the head of state as president.
Nangabo and Weswa who had led a huge delegation of leaders from Trans Nzoia County to condole Sikhendu member of county assembly Andrew Kutitila who had lost his father tried to justify their full move to Jubilee party but to no avail.
“We do respect our brother Moses Wetangula who once served in government and we know what he brought to us but what we are saying is that we want to go hunting for our people in all ways whereby they use Ford Kenya and we use our party to bring something to the table of our people,” said Nangabo to the mourners.
The legislator who was elected on an NFK ticket said that the leaders championing for the merger of the parties in one Jubilee party were leading the way to the right direction where they feel shall gain more benefits including development projects from the government.
A determined Nangabo told the crowd that as much as they do not want to agree with the decision to join Jubilee, they should rest assured that Wetangula who is battling with other CORD principals to be the presidential flag bearer for the coalition is also headed to Jubilee.
Weswa on his side said that the new move by New Ford Kenya to start the dissolution journey to join Jubilee Party was timely enough to ensure that they are part of the formation of the new government instead of waiting to join the government after elections when major positions in government would have been shared.
However in a quick rejoinder Kabuchai Member of Parliament James Lusweti Mukwe affirmed that Ford Kenya followers and the entire CORD fraternity are not ready to join the Jubilee party pointing out that they are busy crafting ways of forming their own government after the 2017 general elections.
He rather urged the people from Bungoma county and other counties in the region to support Wetangula’s bid for the presidency.
Mount Elgon MP John Serut despite choosing to play middle-level politics he lashed at NFK leaders over their decision to dissolve their party to join Jubilee party.
“I have heard that others here have joined another party and are bragging that they shall be the ones to show others where to sit and sleep, I don’t know if that is true but that kind of politics being played is not good for our people,” said Serut.
He instead urged the residents of Bungoma and Western to chat their way forward politically instead of relying on outsiders to determine their political future.
He further called on the residents to remain united and keep peace ahead of the 2017 general elections as he maintained that he will always remain an independent candidate in politics as he fends for his people of Mt. Elgon.
Serut further cautioned CORD leader Raila Odinga against undermining the Luhya community and to have respect leaders from other parts of the country despite their political moves and affiliations.
The clash between the leaders indicated the tough times ahead of the two coalitions trying to sell their new ideas and policies to the region ahead of next year’s polls especially the NFK politicians who have to repackage their new political vehicle to be accepted by the electorate.
The funeral was attended by leaders from all walks of life as they mourned the old man who was the father of politicians including Wycliffe Wepukhulu a former councilor at the defunct Mount Elgon County Council and Sikhendu MCA Andrew Kutitila among others.
