New Ford Kenya MCAs cry foul, claim party has been sold

New Ford Kenya party leader and Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka addressing the press after they held a closed door meeting at a Nairobi hotel. With him are United Democratic Front (UDF) chairman Hassan Osman(L) and New Ford kenya secretary general Benjamin Mwema on 11/07/2016 [PHOTO:JENIPHER WACHIE/Standard]

Members of County Assembly (MCAs) allied to New Ford-Kenya in Kakamega County have protested against an announcement by party leader and Bungoma County Governor Ken Lusaka that the party has been dissolved to form Jubilee Party.

In a statement that was read by Namamali ward MCA Kelvin Olengo, the ward representatives questioned why New Ford-Kenya rushed to fold up even before the Jubilee party was formed.

On Monday, The party's National Executive Council (NEC) announced after a meeting that members had agreed to join Jubilee party. President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto are expected to use the Jubilee Party to seek re-election next year.

"We are shocked that our party has been sold out and immediately dissolved without wide consultation. There are many parties that make up Jubilee coalition and none of them has so far been dissolved, why New Ford Kenya?" read the statement in part.

The MCAs have since vowed that they will not join Jubilee on the grounds that they were not consulted and will rally their supporters to ignore Jubilee party.

"This party is not a personal property, they would have sought for views from many stakeholders including electorate but not a few individuals to sit in a boardroom and come out to announce that the party had been disbanded," read part of the statement.

Olengo asked Lusaka to join the Jubilee party as an individual and not to disband the outfit. "His decision does not represent the wishes of many on the ground. There is more that meet the eyes. Why is he so obsessed in dissolving the party," posed Olengo.

Jubilee youth leader in Kakamega county Samuel Amambia who was accompanied by Jubilee supporters announced that he had decamped to the Musalia Mudavadi led Amani National Congress (ANC).

"As Jubilee youth chairman in Kakamega County I have officially resigned and joined the Amani National Congress. We will not be sold like chickens," he said.

He slammed Governor Lusaka's assertion that New Ford-Kenya had collapsed to join Jubilee Party. He said that it was a personal decision since some party stalwarts were not consulted.

Lusaka said there shall be a National Delegate Conference soon and disgruntled MCAs will be given opportunity to air out their views.

"New Ford-Kenya has not been dissolved. We just made the first step towards the dissolution of it because all parties that make up Jubilee Coalition are going to be disbanded and we do not want to be left behind," said Lusaka.

He said the decision to announce that party was being disbanded was not a personal position since it was agreed by all NEC officials during the meeting.

"In the next meeting that is when we will have to adopt the NEC resolutions and before final decision is made, we will listen to everyone and reach a satisfactory conclusion," he maintained.