Wetang’ula elected Ford Kenya leader

By CASPER WAITHAKA cwaithaka@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted Saturday, March 19 2011 at 22:00

Former Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetang’ula was on Saturday elected Ford Kenya leader, ending years of internal wrangling at the party.

However, it was a well choreographed election as all the seats were clinched by acclamation following an earlier prepared list of office bearers.

The former party top brass led by Musikari Kombo resigned last week, a move which Mr Wetang’ula dismissed saying their tenure had expired long before.

Addressing the delegates after the election, Mr Wetang’ula promised to popularise the party.

“We are going to defend our territory as we conquer more,” he said.

He faces a daunting task, especially against Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa who has been vigorously campaigning in Ford-K strongholds in the past few months since he declared his candidature for the presidency.

“Boardroom politics are over now, brace yourselves for a major recruitment drive,” said Mr Wetang’ula.

Other top officials who were elected include Khatib Mwashetani as deputy party leader, Cabinet minister John Munyes (national chairman) and Kimilili MP Eseli Simiyu (secretary-general).

Different speakers who spoke acknowledged that Ford-K had almost been swallowed by the Party of National Unity.

Work is now cut out for Mr Wetang’ula who has been in the cold since he stepped aside from the Foreign Affairs docket to pave way for investigations into allegations of corruption in the ministry involving several Kenyan foreign missions.

Mr Mwashetani who helped the party clinch several civic seats in recent by-elections said the problem with the party has been with its leadership.