CORD, Amani let affiliate parties field candidates

By Peter Atsiaya

Bungoma County

CORD and Amani alliances have diffused political tension ahead of nominations in Bungoma County by allowing affiliate parties to field candidates separately.

A battle for political titans was looming in the county as senior politicians were expected to battle for tickets for senatorial and gubernatorial seats in today’s nominations.

But coalition leaders realised the dangers of going for joint nominations and instead allowed parties to field candidates separately under the umbrellas.

In Amani Alliance, supporters of veteran politicians and former Cabinet Ministers Dr Mukhisa Kituyi and Musikari Kombo breathed a sigh of relief after they were allowed to go separately. Kombo, the former Ford Kenya Chairman and Kituyi, former Trade Minister will therefore not battle it out in the nominations.

Deputy Prime Minister Musalia Mudavadi’s private secretary Kibisu Kabatesi said that Kombo’s New Ford-Kenya party was free to conduct their nominations for senator’s seat.

Kombo is expected to directly get the New Ford-K ticket since he has no rival in the party that is led by Justice Minister Eugene Wamalwa.

A seesaw battle between the two leaders who have dominated Bungoma politics would have been witnessed during the nominations.

In CORD, the much-expected battle between Assistant minister Alfred Khangati and Ambassador Jack Tumwa for Governor’s seat has been averted.

Endorsement

Mr Khangati is running on an ODM ticket while Tumwa is Ford-Kenya’s flag bearer. Their parties will hold nominations separately.

Khangati got a boost when Prime Minister Raila Odinga endorsed him for the seat during his campaigns in Bungoma town on Sunday.

However, the PM’s decision to declare ‘Khangati Tosha’ has not gone down well with his opponents in the area.

Amani aspirant for the seat and former Permanent Secretary Kenneth Lusaka (New Ford-Kenya) is a front-runner for the seat.

Mr Wetangula on the other hand is sure of his party’s ticket, as he has no challenger for the same.