The Ford Kenya party has presented the highlights reels for drama in the last couple of months, standing side by side with the Jubilee party. The attempted removal of Ford Kenya party leader Moses Wetangula back in June blew party issues into the open, with Ford Kenya Secretary General and Tongaren MP David Eseli and Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi seeking to wrest control of the party. What followed has been an exchange of accusations and each side claiming leadership, with the matter still in Court. The Tongaren MP, however, hasn’t loosened his stance and views on the party direction, leadership and politics.
Speaking to West TV on Saturday at his home, Eseli said the ouster axe was to fall on him and Wetangula, “Party members told me to call a NEC meeting and ensure Wetangula is removed or I’ll be ousted.” He said he couldn’t carry Wetangula’s burden and mistakes and gave in to what party members wanted. With criticism of the Bungoma Senator already in public domain, Eseli said the party leader was inaccessible to members, had a tarnished reputation due to scandals and had prominent leaders leaving the party, “It didn’t bode well for us yet we are heading towards the 2022 elections,” he said.
He disputed claims that they were bribed to stage a party coup, saying he can’t depend on handouts as a party SG, “When I defended Wetangula during the Tokyo scandal, how much did he pay me? Let him show it. If I depend on handouts then I’ll tarnish my name.” He further faulted the party leader for the way he led the party, “The party had started losing direction, anyone could come and go, Khalwale came from nowhere and within a short time became a party official…. All the blame was being placed on me as the secretary general, but the one who was orchestrating all these was just standing there.”
On the awarding of party tickets, Eseli revealed that Bumula MP Mwambu Mabonga was denied the chance to vie, despite his efforts during the campaigns. “In 2017, when the Ford Kenya party’s influence had diminished, Wamunyinyi and I said we must start rallies in every ward, we called it Ford Kenya Mashinani. We incorporated Mwambu Mabonga, he whipped up crowds and livened people up, in fact 18 MCAs seats were won because of the Ford Kenya Mashinani,” he said, “When the elections reached, they took the ticket from Mwambu and gave it to another candidate.”
However, the SG is optimistic that the party’s influence will not weaken across the country. “Last week on Wednesday I was in Meru and I met delegates, they were delighted. During the 2017 NASA campaigns, we used to reach these areas and Rails met his ODM members, Kalonzo his Wiper members, Mudavadi his ANC members but our leader wasn’t there, so the members lost morale,” he said, “Now if we start igniting them on the base you’ll see the difference.”
With the Luhya community unity ever hitting headlines, the Tongaren MP said the blame rests with Bungoma and Trans Nzoia leaders. He stated that the Bukusu sub tribe is the largest and if they stay together the Luhya community will stay together. “Historically the Ford Kenya leader is like the community leader,” he said.
He added that a Luhya leader isn’t picked by a few groups of people. “Traditionally, leaders for our community came out and presented themselves to the community. If there are those waiting for a board decision to give them the leadership then it won’t happen,” said Eseli.