As the nation gears towards the 2022 general election, the two camps in Ford Kenya in Trans Nzoia are making their moves, one led by Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula and another led by Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi and Tongaren MP David Eseli. Leaders under Wetangula’s camp are aligning themselves towards Deputy President William Ruto while the ones led by Wamunyinyi have opted for the Devolution CS Eugene Wamalawa and Kakamega Governor Wyliffe Oparanya camp.
This past weekend, the two factions had different visits, with the Wetangula faction meeting DP Ruto and Jubilee, ANC MCAs in his Sugoi home in Uasin Gishu while the Wamunyinyi team met Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati and Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi. What still baffles Trans Nzoia residents is the fact that elected Ford Kenya MCAs, 8 out of the 25, have openly taken sides as the party rift plays out in the open.
Out of the 8 MCAs, 6 led by the minority leader in the assembly Emmanuel Waswa support Wamunyinyi while 2 led by Kapomboi MCA Ben Wajala Mlipuko and Motosiet MCA Bernard Aliang’ana support Wetangula. The Wamunyinyi camp has criticized Wetangula, saying he has taken the Luhya community for a ride and he isn’t equal to the Presidency task. The rift has also reached the precincts of the County assembly, when Motosiet’s Bernard Aliang’ana wanted to oust the current minority leader Emmanuel Waswa, an application that was supported by Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula and other party leaders. The proposal, was vehemently opposed, however, and the change was not effected.
Further, leaders allied to Wamunyinyi failed to attend a party meeting convened at Kwanza MP Ferdinand Wanyonyi’s home by Senator Wetangula, opting to hold their meeting at the home of Kapomboi MCA Mlipuko and claiming they don’t recognize Wetangula’s leadership. It was alleged by an unnamed MCA who was part of the team that visited DP Ruto that they tabled plans to oust the Trans Nzoia County assembly speaker Joshua Werunga over an apparent inclination to the Wamunyinyi faction.
MCAs allied to Wamunyinyi also don’t support Kiminini MP Dr. Chris Wamalwa gubernatorial aspirations, saying he is abrasive, and proud. However, Wamalwa has rubbished the claims stating he has no time to walk around with MCAs who he said are going to lose their positions in the coming general elections, “I cannot walk with such kind of leaders and will never call them whenever I am visiting their areas,” he said.
