Bungoma voters elect Wetang’ula allies in polls
Bungoma residents heeded the call by Ford Kenya party leader Moses Wetang’ula and voted out MPs who plotted to oust him from party leadership.
Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi, Tongaren MP Eseli Simiyu and governor Wycliffe Wangamati were voted out in favour of Ford Kenya party candidates in their respective seats. The three former allies of Wetang’ula were behind the 2020 botched coup in the lion’s party at a Nairobi hotel. They had accused Wetang’ula of mismanaging the party.
Wamunyinyi who has served for three terms in Kanduyi was floored by John Makali who garnered 32,099 against his 20,240.
Eseli who is a former Ford Kenya secretary general was sent packing by John Chikati of Ford Kenya. Chikati garnered 20,108 while Eseli who is also the DAP secretary general got 9,814 .
Wangamati lost to Senate Speaker and first Bungoma governor Kenneth Lusaka.
Wetang’ula resisted the move through courts and forced the three to move to a newly formed DAP-K party associated with Defence CS Eugene Wamalwa which they all used to vie for political positions.
The Ford Kenya chief vowed to teach the three together with other elected MCAs who opposed him a political lesson by asking electorates to reject them at the ballot.
“These are leaders whom I have personally assisted both politically and in many other ways only for them to betray me through ODM party boss Raila Odinga to oust me. I know our people are smart, wise and will teach them a lesson they will live to remember,” he said.
Lusaka won the seat with a 70 per cent victory while Wangamati got 30 per cent of the votes.
Wetang’ula also clinched his senatorial seat back by beating all of his other four competitors with a landslide victory.
Bungoma women rep Catherine Wambilianga has also retained her seat under Ford Kenya party ticket.
The party has also managed to bag the Webuye East MP seat through Martin Wanyonyi Pepela. He becomes first albino to be elected in national parliament.
Ford Kenya also retained Kabuchai constituency seat through Majimbo Kalasinga, who garnered 37,627 votes.
