New Ford Kenya endorses Wamalwa for top seat

By STEVEN MAKABILA

New Ford-Kenya party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) has endorsed Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa as its presidential candidate.

The NEC meeting held at a Nairobi hotel Friday also endorsed party secretary general Benjamin Muema as the New Ford-Kenya spokesman.

Out of the 40 NEC members, only party leader, Housing Minister and Malava MP Soita Shitanda and Director of Elections, Ikolomani MP Boni Khalwale skipped the meeting held at Sacred Hotel.

The committee also gave Mr Wamalwa a go-ahead to enter into political alliances with like-minded leaders from other political parties.

Currently, the Saboti MP is a key member of the G7 alliance. Other members of the Alliance include Deputy Prime Minister Uhuru Kenyatta, Vice-President Kalonzo Musyoka and Eldoret North MP William Ruto.

Wamalwa said they want the party’s affairs to be conducted in a sober way as they prepare for the General Election.

“We do not want serious party issues to be articulated in funerals by some leaders who have no mandate to speak on our behalf. We want to clear any confusion that has been created in the party by some of our colleagues whose loyalty has shifted elsewhere,” he said.

The Justice minister assured party members that he would be on the presidential ballot in the forth-coming General Election.

He announced he will next month tour the Diaspora to seek logistical support. “I am not going to let down my supporters who believe in my presidential bid. I will be in the race to the end and as a party we are fully prepared for the bruising battle ahead,” Wamalwa said.

Nominated MP Musikari Kombo sent his apologies through the party’s national organising secretary Eusbesius Mukhwana. Dr Mukhwana said Mr Shitanda and Dr Khalwale who are allied to UDF associated with Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi are free to quit the party.