Conflict is brewing among UDA and Ford Kenya leaders in Bungoma County following the UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala’s sentiments urging all Kenya Kwanza affiliated parties to fold and form one national party.
According to Bungoma County UDA members led by Protus Lumonje, the sentiments of Ford Kenya leaders in the County are meant to demean their Secretary General, something they say is not in order.
However, they have told Ford Kenya to stop peddling into UDA matters and respect leaders and supporters of UDA.
According to the UDA Coordinator in Bungoma County Janet Kihara, UDA has started registering members in different parts of the County and urged residents to join UDA since it is a party with a national outlook.
They however alleged that perhaps the disagreement is due to former Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati joining UDA.
UDA Secretary General Cleophas Malala while in Vihiga County said Luhyas have been lied on for a very long time but only one or two people benefit and added that this time round as a community they must prioritize their agenda and have strategy since it is the only way Luhyas can get at the top and that can be achieved if they all do away with their parties which he termed as led by leaders from the same community and County and join a national party which is UDA.
Last week, a section of Ford Kenya members told off Cleophas Malala saying there was nowhere in the agreement in Kenya Kwanza that affiliate parties will be dissolved to join UDA once the government is formed as they went ahead saying that having separate individual parties in a coalition is a sign of strength telling him to advocate for strengthening the coalition and not folding other parties.
They said as Luhyas they have unity under their leaders; Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Wetangula who doubles as Ford Kenya party leader and Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi warning Malala not to accept to be used as an agent of bringing confusion in Mulembe nation and therefore not ready to dissolve their party.
