Ford-P suspends MP for ‘disloyalty’, supporting rival

By Robert Nyasato

Ford People has suspended an MP from the party for supporting the ODM candidate in the Kitutu Masaba by-election.

Addressing a news conference at a Kisii hotel yesterday, the party secretary general Michael Namayi said the decision to suspend Trade Assistant Minister and South Mugirango MP Manson Nyamweya was reached after noting his involvement in ODM activities.

He alleged that Nyamweya had neglected Ford People, the party that sponsored him to Parliament through a by-lection. "The National Executive Council (NEC) has decided to suspended Nyamweya from the party pending further action to be taken by the party General Council," Namayi read from a Press release.

He was flanked by the party national chairman and former Cabinet minister Henry Obwocha and deputy secretary general Mwancha Okoima, who is also the party’s candidate for the by-election, among others.

On Sunday, Nyamweya accompanied the Orange party’s campaign team that included Prime Minister Raila Odinga to drum up support for the ODM candidate, Timothy Bosire.

"Ford People believes in the rule of law and can’t sit back and watch the party constitution being violated," stressed Namayi.

Attacked chairman

The officials said they resolved to suspend the MP after the party wrote him a letter on October 13, asking him to explain why disciplinary action should not be taken against him for contravening the Political Parties Act. They alleged that Nyamweya instead started attacking the chairman.

Obwocha asked the Registrar of Political Parties, Lucy Ndung’u, to take decisive action against MPs flouting the Constitution.

"As proponents of the Second Liberation, we must protect multipartism jealously," he said.

But in a quick rejoinder, Nyamweya said he was part of Raila’s campaign trail in his capacity as an assistant minister and not a Ford People member.

"We are in a coalition government and Ford People is re-structuring in readiness for the 2012 General Election. That is when we shall know which way to go," Nyamweya explained.