Ken Lusaka takes over from Eugene Wamalwa as New Ford-K leader

NAIROBI: Governor Kenneth Lusaka was Tuesday endorsed as New Ford Kenya leader by the party's National Executive Committee (NEC).

Lusaka took over from Eugene Wamalwa who has been nominated by President Uhuru Kenyatta as the Cabinet secretary for Water and Irrigation.

This now puts him at par with Ford Kenya leader and Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang'ula, who is viewed as the senior most politician in the region. Wetang'ula is also a co-principal of the official opposition CORD.

Former Agriculture Minister Kipruto Arap Kirwa is the party's new chairman.

Speaking yesterday at a Nairobi hotel, the party's Secretary General Col (rtd) Benjamin Mwema said the two were unanimously endorsed by NEC.

"As per the party constitution, our party leader has to step down and concentrate on his new duties as a Cabinet secretary. The NEC has resolved that Kenneth Lusaka becomes the new party leader," he said.

In his acceptance speech, Lusaka said the party will start a nationwide recruitment to bolster its membership.

And in what seemed to refer to the party's association with the Jubilee ruling coalition, Lusaka said: "We need to reconnect with the electorate and avoid turning away millions. We cannot avoid coalitions with like minded parties."

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"New Ford Kenya (NFK) is a party with a bright future and we are willing to fund its operations so that we have many elected leaders to have bargaining power in 2017's General Election. Vibrant parties have propelled some leaders to top positions so we don't need to sit back and watch others succeed," Lusaka said.

Mr Lusaka had earlier disclosed his intention to be the NFK party leader.

Speaking on a local vernacular radio station yesterday, Lusaka said it will be an honour to serve Kenyans, adding that he has the experience to lead the party to political glory.

"Apart from being a governor, I can also lead NFK and take it to higher places. This is the only local party that our people can be proud of because it has elevated many people to the positions they hold now," he said.

NFK Director of Elections Julius Bakasa last week had suggested that Lusaka, who was on official duty in Singapore should be the party leader because he has the power and resources to lead it.

Mr Wamalawa's appointment has been interpreted by political pundits as a strategy by the Jubilee administration to wrestle the western Kenya voting bloc from the Raila Odinga-led Coalition on Reform and Democracy ahead of 2017's General Election.