Senator Moses Wetang'ula is not a political broker, says Ford Kenya youth leader

Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetang'ula (C) with Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa (R) in a past event

Leaders from Bungoma County have defended Ford Kenya party leader Moses Wetang'ula after an MP accused him of faking interest in the 2017 presidential race.

Sirisia MP John Waluke who was elected on an ODM ticket claimed on Tuesday that the senator is not serious about his Presidential bid and is using the Luhyia community for his own selfish gains.

Waluke, who spoke after a meeting with the Bungoma County's ODM delegates, accused Wetang'ula of being a "broker" and using his perceived support from the community to negotiate with Jubilee.

Speaking to The Standard, a Ford Kenya youth leader Moses Nandalwe said the first term MP should stop thinking that his political profile will be boosted, if he keeps attacking the Senator who is also a Cord co-principal.

"Waluke has announced that he will work with Jubilee. He should let Wetang'ula be and concentrate fighting his peers, as he is not in the same league with the senator and cannot fight in his league," emphasized Nandalwe.

He explained that Wetangula is among the most popular politicians in Western Kenya and appealed to leaders from the region to back his bid for the highest leadership position in the country.

"It is sad that some leaders castigating Wetang'ula at the moment were on record earlier promising to support him if he clinches the Cord ticket, after he displayed his seriousness by launching his bid, he is being fought from all fronts," said Nandalwe.

Meanwhile Ford Kenya will now have a structured way of releasing information to the public on matters to do with the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (Cord).

This is after the party leader Senator Moses Wetang'ula convened a house keeping meeting, following sharp criticism of some Ford Kenya leaders by CORD coalition partners.

Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa last week came under stinging criticism after he claimed that he witnessed the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in 2013, which stated that Raila was to be a one-term president and then support Kalonzo in 2017 and Wetang'ula in 2022.

Chris Mandu Mandu the Ford Kenya National Organizing Secretary confirmed that a consensus was reached last week that Tongaren MP Eseli Simiyu is best suited to speak on behalf of the party on matters touching on the coalition.

"For the remaining period until 2017, Dr. Eseli will be the one issuing the official statements on behalf of Ford Kenya in Cord. He is part of the CORD's management committee officials," he explained.