- The politicians attempted to kick out Wetang’ula from Ford Kenya saying he was incapable of running the party affairs.
- DAP-K is an affiliate of Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya Alliance while Ford Kenya is in Kenya Kwanza
Political heavyweights in Bungoma who attempted to topple Senator Moses Wetang’ula from the helm of Ford Kenya in May 2020 have paid a heavy price.
The politicians, who decamped to Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K) after the failed coup, have lost their seats to Ford Kenya candidates.
Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati, legislators Wafula Wamunyinyi (Kanduyi) and Eseli Simiyu (Tongaren) attempted to kick out Wetang’ula from Ford Kenya saying he was incapable of running the party affairs.
The three accused Wetang’ula of running Ford Kenya “like his personal kiosk.”
They then joined DAP-K, associated with Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa. Wamunyinyi was elected party leader and Eseli secretary general.
In the run up to the August 9 poll, Wetang’ula backed his former rival, Senate Speaker Ken Lusaka, in his bid to recapture the Bungoma governor’s seat on Ford Kenya ticket.
Provisional results on Thursday showed Lusaka was headed for victory.
On June 1, Wangamati reached out to Wetang’ula and pleaded with him to consider burying the hatchet.
He said differences with Wetang’ula undermined his performance. He explained that development projects had suffered because of their rivalry.
“Wetang’ula should stop his differences with me as we come from the same constituency,” he said during celebrations to mark Madaraka Day.
“Opponents have never allowed me to work for Bungoma people. Every day, every week, every month they say something to taint my name.”
Wetang’ula backed Wangamati’s election in the 2017 on Ford Kenya but the two fell out soon after.
Wamunyinyi and Eseli also lost their seats.
In the Kanduyi parliamentary race, Ford Kenya’s John Makali emerged the winner after garnering 32,099 votes against Wamunyinyi’s 20,240 votes.
ODM’s Alfred Khangati came third with 12,970 votes.
In Tongaren race, John Chikati of Ford Kenya trounced Eseli after garnering 20,108 votes. Eseli only managed 9,802 votes.
Overall, Wetang’ula delivered his home county of Bungoma to Deputy President William Ruto.
Wamunyinyi and Eseli had endeavoured to make the county a DAP-K stronghold.
Provisional results on Thursday morning showed Ruto had garnered 229,409 votes in Bungoma county which represented 63.15 per cent of the ballots counted.
Azimio’s Raila Odinga had 13,478 votes which represented 35.92 per cent of the ballots counted.
DAP-K is an affiliate of Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Coalition.
Wetang’ula and his ANC counterpart Musalia Mudavadi had promised to deliver 70 per cent of all Western votes to the Deputy President.
They were tasked with delivering votes across Kakamega, Bungoma, Vihiga, Busia and Trans Nzoia counties.
They negotiated for a 30 per cent stake of government if the Kenya Kwanza coalition wins the presidency.
However, Mudavadi failed in delivering his Vihiga backyard, according to provisional results as Raila had 85,995 votes (59.81 per cent) while Ruto garnered 56,283 votes (39.15 per cent).
Results also showed that Ruto garnered 76 per cent of the total cast votes at Wetangula’s polling station in Namakhele Primary School, beating his opponent Raila by a big margin.
The Ford Kenya boss and his Amani National Congress counterpart parted ways with Raila after they decamped from the now moribund National Super Alliance over claims of betrayal by the former Prime Minister.
Ruto garnered 276 votes in Mululu Primary School where the ANC leader cast his ballot. Raila garnered 82 votes at the polling station.
Wetang'ula was purportedly replaced by the Kanduyi MP as the interim party leader but the Bungoma senator rushed to court to stop the move.
Eseli has accused the Bungoma Senator of hiding behind courts to remain as party leader. It was not long before Eseli and Wamunyinyi ditched Ford Kenya.
(Edited by Tabnacha O)