Mudavadi's Amani coalition torn between Wamalwa and Kombo as by-election battle starts

By STEPHEN MAKABILA             

Political leaders in western Kenya have taken varying positions on who to support for the Bungoma County senatorial race.

For the CORD  leadership, the battle ahead is of major political significance, given that it involves one of its co-principals, Ford- Kenya party leader Moses Wetang’ula.

United Democratic Forum ( UDF) leader Musalia Mudavadi has already declared the party will not field a candidate in Bungoma, but will support a New Ford-Kenya candidate.

In the March 4 general elections, UDF had fielded Dr Mukhisa Kituyi, who has since been appointed secretary general of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development.

UDF, New Ford- Kenya and Kanu were part of Amanicoalition, but all signed separate post-election agreements with the Jubilee coalition. The Amanicoalition has jointly over 10 MPs in Western, mainly from UDF and NFK.

NFK party leader, former Justice minister EugeneWamalwa, says the party had also talked to Kanu not to field a candidate in Bungoma.

“Of course we do not expect either TNA or URP to field a candidate there. We have a co-operation agreement with Jubilee where we have to work together on a wide range of issues in and out of Parliament,” saidWamalwa.

 There are, however, concerns within UDF over indications that the party’s Kakamega Senator Dr. Bonny Khalwale, could support Wetang’ula of the CORD coalition.

Khalwale is on record  as having said that he and Wetang’ula have been working together to advance interests of former Western province, advising that the people of Bungoma should either re-elect Wetang’ula, or a stronger person.

Khalwale has of late also indicated UDF is not part of the Jubilee family, which he says had failedKenyans in relation to the rising cost of living.

Nominations

“We raised the Khalwale issue with Mudavadi who has assured us he will ensure Khalwale toes the party line,” says New Ford Kenya secretary general Canon Benjamin Mwema.

Mwema said two requests for nominations have been made for the NFK ticket, one from Musikari Kombo and another request from Dr Juma Mukhwana.

“As a party, we are going to soon embark on the process of nominations and whoever will emerge the winner will be backed,” added Mwema.

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