ODM, Ford-Kenya differ on Wetang'ula plans

What you need to know:

  • Mr Oparanya, who is the ODM deputy party leader, has dismissed Wetang'ula's presidential bid.

  • Bungoma Senator Wycliffe Oparanya said he'll launch his presidential bit in Kakamega County on April 2.

Officials from Ford-Kenya and ODM have differed over the planned launch of Senator Moses Wetangula’s presidential bid in Kakamega on April 2.

Tuesday, western Kenya MPs and senators affiliated to Ford-K released a joint statement, accusing Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya of trying to rock Cord by denying Mr Wetang’ula the space to launch his presidential bid.

Mr Oparanya, who is the ODM deputy party leader, has dismissed the bid, claiming that the opposition coalition has already decided on who will be its presidential candidate in 2017.

The Ford-K lawmakers, however, said the ODM governor was out to scuttle efforts to unite the various parties in the coalition.

“We do not take lightly attempts by Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya, who is a senior ODM official, to obstruct Senator Moses Wetang’ula from launching his presidential bid in Masinde Muliro Gardens, Kakamega,” said Ford-K, in the statement read by Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale at Parliament Buildings in Nairobi.

He was accompanied by 10 other MPs and senators.

On Sunday, Mr Oparanya said Mr Wetang’ula’s planned launch was unnecessary, drawing the anger of the senator’s supporters.

Mr Wetang’ula’s party said it had already booked the venue and asked for security from the police.

Dr Khalwale, who was elected on a UDF ticket, but who said he had moved to Ford-K, said Cord co-principals Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka would attend the launch. 

“Ford-Kenya is a principal partner in Cord and our understanding is that each of the three principals stands an equal chance of being a flag bearer of the coalition for the presidency,” the senator said.