Wetang’ula receives defectors from Azimio

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula on Saturday received defectors from the Azimio la Umoja coalition which he termed as a strategy to strengthen the Ford Kenya party.

Those who defected to the Kenya Kwanza included former Kanduyi MP and Bungoma County ODM leader Alfred Khang’ati, former Bungoma deputy governor Prof. Charles Ngome and Members of the former Bungoma County assembly who floored in the August polls.

Khang’ati served as an MP between 2007 to 2013, in 2013 he unsuccessfully vied for the Bungoma gubernatorial position on ODM ticket.

In 2017, Khang’ati tried his second luck to vie for the gubernatorial seat on ODM ticket again but he was defeated by former governor Wycliffe Wangamati.

In 2022 August polls, Khang’ati vied for the Kanduyi parliamentary seat but he was beaten by the current MP John Makali of Ford Kenya.

Sirisia politician Moses Nandalwe also joined Wetang'ula's Ford Kenya led party.

Speaking on Saturday after receiving defectors, Wetang’ula said that there is need to make Ford Kenya firm so that he can also have energy to engage and negotiate for bigger projects to come to the western region.

The national assembly speaker pointed out that in the entire region, it is only Ford Kenya and ANC parties that appended their signatures during an agreement with the UDA party to form the Kenya Kwanza government.

Wetang’ula argues that Ford Kenya should be backed by Bungoma people first so that other people can join the party along the way.

“It’s you to give me support before outsiders can think of the same, let us not divide the Luhya community,” Wetang’ula said.

The National assembly speaker trashed former Bumula MP Mwambu Mabonga and former Kanduyi Wafula Wamunyinyi Senatorial bids saying that they aren’t equal to the task.

He said they were dethroned from their positions as MP’s because they failed to deliver.

“There are two people going around Bungoma attacking me as if I am a Senatorial candidate, I am not competing for any seat soon, reject them and elect Wafula Wakoli of Ford Kenya as the next Bungoma Senator,” Wetang’ula said.

Wetang’ula praised Wafula saying that he has been his office manager for long and he understands the role of the senator.

“Wafula has worked in my office for the past ten years and he knows everything, I want you to elect him as your senator come December 8th,” he said.

Wetangula said he has already started talks with Pr

esident William Ruto on how Bungoma economy can be improved through tarmacking roads, reviving the ailing sugar sectors and ensuring that residents are accessing quality health care and education.

“Some of the roads in Bungoma have already been included on the tarmacking list, we are only waiting for the national assembly to pass the budget then things will hit the ground running,” Wetang’ula added.

He argues that with governor Lusaka and Wafula combination will make Bungoma shine and return to its normal position.

“When Lusaka was the governor between 2013- 2017, Bungoma was appearing on top as the best performing county,” he said.

The event was attended by all Ford Kenya MPs and Bungoma governor Ken Lusaka.

Lusaka told the Star that his vote will go to Ford Kenya’s Wafula Wakoli as the Senator adding that he is ready to serve as the governor.

Khang’ati said that he has ditched ODM and joined Ford Kenya party.

Kabuchai MP Majimbo Kalasinga asked Wetang’ula to leave the mantle for him to traverse Bungoma to ask locals to back Wafula’s bid.

“I am now the senior most Ford Kenya MP in Bungoma therefore what Wetang’ula has done is enough, leave it to me and go back to Nairobi to serve,” Majimbo noted

 Majimbo noted that he will make sure that the Senate seat is delivered to Ford Kenya party.