In LDP, the party is yet to agree on the results of the grassroots elections held in September last year. The elections put party newcomers at loggerheads with incumbent MPs who were easily floored in most of the 210 constituencies. After threats by MPs led by Raila’s right hand man, Otieno Kajwang, that they would decamp if the party headquarters did not recognize them as the bona fide party leaders, the party developed cold feet and very little has been heard of the results of the grassroots elections since then.
Last month, an attempt to push the party into constituting the party national delegates congress was shelved when two camps emerged with one, fronted by Joseph Kamotho and another, led by Mumbi Ng’aru emerged over the issue.
Another rift in the party is simmering between Prof. Larry Gumbe, the party chairman, and Prof. Anyang’ Nyong’o over the party’s role in ODM-Kenya coalition. This is on top of the age old war between the Raila and Musyoka camp.
In Ford Kenya, the party is still losing members. Recent defectors are Davis Nakitare, MP for Saboti who decamped to Narc-kenya over the weekend. Earlier, Enock Kibunguchy and Mukhisa Kituyi defected from the party after failing to capture the party’s chairmanship. He also joined Narc-Kenya.
Other MPs who have ditched the party include Dr Bonny Khalwale, the MP for Ikolomani, and Soita Shitanda, who formed the unregistered New Ford Kenya. The exodus from Ford Kenya began when the party bungled with its elections, sending away Kituyi, one of the party’s founder members.
As for Ford people, its biggest threats are the inroads both Narc-Kenya and ODM-Kenya are making into the party’s traditional stronghold. On the Narc-Kenya side, Catherine Nyamato, a former nominated MP, is leading a formidable group of Narc-Kenya aspirants that is running a well targeted campaign to recruit members into the party. On the other hand, Omingo Magara, the MP for Mugirango South, is leading an ODM rebellion against Simeon Nyachae in Gusiiland.
Major parties in a quandary: LDP, Ford Kenya, Ford People
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