Marende and Jirongo: Join our new party
Leaders from Western region Eugene Wamalwa (left), Kenneth Marende, Cyrus Jirongo and Musalia Mudavadi at a past forum of Western leaders. PHOTO | FILE |
What you need to know:
- New political vehicle
- Other parties are Amani National Congress, Ford Kenya, New Ford Kenya and the Progressive Party of Kenya.
Former National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende and Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo have formed a new political party they claim will be be the vehicle for the Luhya presidency in 2017.
Mr Marende, who was recently appointed chairman of the Kenya Power board by President Uhuru Kenyatta, said the United Democratic Party will be used to unite leaders from the region to enhance their bargaining power.
A drive to register six million voters was launched early this year. Speaking at a fundraiser at Musutsu Secondary School last Friday, Mr Jirongo, a former leader of the Federal Party of Kenya, called on Luhyas to join the new party.
“ODM is not our house. Ford is not even our house. It was started by our Luo neighbours,” said Mr Jirongo.
“We must have our own house and should not keep sheltering in other people’s houses,” Mr Jirongo said.
UDP joins a crowded field in the region.
Other parties are Amani National Congress, Ford Kenya, New Ford Kenya and the Progressive Party of Kenya.
Mr Marende said the community will back a Luhya for the top seat. “We only have 1.8 million registered voters yet we can register up to five million voters. Our votes must be in one basket. Luhya leaders are now uniting,” he said.
“If we unite”, Mr Marende said, “others will be willing to partner with us. We will be taken seriously. Already Jubilee leaders are willing to work with us if we unite.”
Vihiga Senator George Khaniri (UDF) and Hamisi MP Charles Gimose (FPK) also addressed the gathering.
Mr Khaniri, who has declared his candidature for the presidency in 2022, stressed the need to unite all the Luhya and push for registration of more voters.
“We must clinch the presidency. I have given Musalia (Mudavadi) and Raila (Odinga) a yellow card. If they don’t give us one candidate for the Western region, I will take over from them.
“Today we only came to help in the construction of a dormitory. We shall come back again to advance the agenda we have in UDP as we continue registration of members to this new party,” said Mr Jirongo.
