Ford-K to open presidency ticket to members

• Management committee resolved to forward their recommendations to the party's hierarchy for adoption.

• Mr Kombo, Foreign Affairs assistant minister Moses Wetangula, Lands assistant minister Bifwoli Wakoli and Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa are keen on getting the party nod.

Ford-Kenya agreed on Tuesday to amend its constitution to allow any member to vie for the presidency.

Currently, the chairman of the party is its automatic candidate for the top seat.

In a meeting presided over by chairman Musikari Kombo, the management committee resolved to forward their recommendations to the party's hierarchy for adoption.

"The National Executive Committee is to meet on October 13," Mr Kombo, said.

The resolution paves the way for four members of the party who are yearning to vie for the presidency to fulfill their ambitions.

The four are: Mr Kombo, Foreign Affairs assistant minister Moses Wetangula, Lands assistant minister Bifwoli Wakoli and Saboti MP Eugene Wamalwa.

Mr Kombo, Mr Wetangula and Mr Wamalwa are also battling it out for the Ford-K chairmanship slot.

It is the special delegates conference that will nominate the presidential candidate for the party, the meeting resolved.

Also in the race for the chairmanship is youthful human rights campaigner Brian Weke.

On Tuesday, Ford-Kenya which is among parties that pioneered the fight for democracy in the country also proposed amendments to its constitution to create the Party Leader position, among others.

The move, observers said, could ease the fight for the chairmanship slot which has seen candidates criss-crossing the country seeking support as some could now opt to strike a deal with rivals for the sharing of the slots.

Addressing journalists after the meeting at Oginga Odinga House on Argwings Kodhek road in Nairobi, Mr Kombo said the October 13 NEC will deliberate on party elections and membership recruitment.

An election board will further be formed to oversee the grassroots elections, Mr Kombo said.

Mr Kombo denied his critics' accusations that he led the party to partnership with PNU in last elections leading to its near collapse.

The nominated MP said: "I did not single-handedly led the party to joining PNU. All the party organs deliberated on the matter."

The former Webuye MP, however, admitted that failure by the party to field a presidential candidate in last two elections had greatly weakened it.

As a result, Mr Kombo announced that Ford-K will be in ballot box in 2012 and that it could enter into a coalition with any party after the elections.

Mr Wamalwa took issue with reports attributed to Mr Wetangula in media questioning his capability to lead the party.