Joy as Wetang’ula bounces back

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By ERICK NGOBILO engobilo@ke.nationmedia.com
Posted  Friday, August 26  2011 at  22:30

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A celebratory mood engulfed Bungoma County after Mr Moses Wetang’ula was reinstated as Foreign Affairs Minister.

The politician’s supporters, mainly from Ford Kenya party, burst into song and dance in most towns within the county when the news reached them.

Bungoma county council chairman Meshack Museveni, who led more than 20 councillors in the celebrations, said the reinstatement would help make Ford-K stronger.

Mr Museveni said the move enabled the densely-populated county to have representation in the Cabinet.

Filled the streets

“We have been in the cold all this time but we are now happy to be back after our party leader was cleared of any wrongdoing,” Mr Museveni said.

Celebrations went on in Webuye, Bungoma, Chwele, Kimilili and the minister’s backyard of Nalondo.

Youths donning Ford-K T-shirts and waving party placards filled the streets.

Mr James Mukhongo, a youth, said those who had left Ford-K will be surprised at how strong the party will continue to be.

The chairman of the Luhya Council of Elders, Mr Patrick Wangamati, welcomed the reinstatement of Mr Wetang’ula, saying investigations into the Tokyo embassy scandal had vindicated the minister.

He said those who were playing politics with the corruption case should now shut up because the investigating arms of government had cleared Mr Wetang’ula.

The party supporters thanked President Kibaki for recognising the contribution Ford-K makes in the running of the country.

The return of Mr Wetang’ula to the Cabinet is likely to change the political dimension of Bungoma County.

The Sirisia MP has been embroiled in supremacy battles with Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa, who has quit Ford-K.

The two leaders have declared interest in the presidency in 2012.

But former Bungoma county council chairman Julius Bakasa, who is a close ally of Mr Wamalwa, said  the report of the Kenya Anti-Corruption Commission that investigated the scandal in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs should be made public.

Those behind the scam should be  prosecuted, he added.

He said that the return of Mr Wetang’ula as a minister may not have a great impact on the politics of the area since the majority of the people are in New Ford Kenya.

Former Bungoma mayor Barasa Mbinga concurred with Mr Bakasa, saying, a Cabinet slot may not add much influence on Ford Kenya, which, he said, was a dead party.

He said they will concentrate on making New Ford Kenya stronger ahead of the  2012 General Election.