Dissolving New Ford-Kenya a bold move, President Uhuru tells party leaders

President Uhuru Kenyatta meets New Ford-Kenya party leaders led by Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka. (Photo: PSCU)

President Uhuru Kenyatta today met leaders of the New Ford-Kenya party who announced the dissolution of their party on Monday.

Led by their Chairman Governor Ken Lusaka of Bungoma, the leaders who included former Cabinet Minister Musikari Kombo and Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa said they had taken the bold move to dissolve their party to bring all Kenyans together and move the country forward.

President Kenyatta thanked them for the decision to join Jubilee, saying it would pave way for other political parties to take similar steps even as the country moves forward in its development agenda.

“I want to assure you that we will also merge our parties. The issues of the law of which had delayed us have now been resolved,” said the President during the meeting at State House Nairobi.

The President noted that the New Ford Kenya has taken the right move, saying for the first time in the history of Kenya leaders are keen on forming a party with a national outlook.

“We don’t want to kill the opposition all we want is for our politics to be on issues not tribal,” said President Kenyatta.

The President said with political parties with a national outlook, Kenyans would have a choice of determining which one has better programmes and agenda.

“We have no interest finishing the opposition. We challenge our colleagues in the opposition to also set up a national party so that we can compete on policies and not on tribal grounds,” the President added.

The President directed that New Ford Kenya be informed of the Jubilee agenda so as to keep abreast with what is being done by the government.

“The Jubilee agenda is their agenda and they should be able to discuss it with their supporters and answer any questions which may be asked,” said the President.

Governor Lusaka said the decision to fold their party was unanimous and that they are happy to join Jubilee and be part of the Government that is transforming Kenya.

Chairman of Water Services Trust Fund Musikari Kombo who is also a member of New Ford Kenya, said the party has led the way by taking a bold step.

“We look forward to seeing other parties take the merger decision,” he said.

Former Cabinet Minister Fred Gumo commended the New Ford Kenya leadership for taking the bold step saying politics involves making such decisions.

“It is always good and beneficial in politics to take the first step. Those who take things for granted live to regret,” said Mr. Gumo.

Former MP Sylvester Wakoli Bifwoli thanked the President for appointing him chairman of the Agriculture Development Cooperation, saying supports the move taken by his party.

Also present were MPs Reginalda Wanyonyi, Boniface Okhiya Otsiula, Daniel Sitati Wanyama, Janet Nangabo, Kennedy Wamang’oli and David Were.