Wangamati: Fallout with Ford Kenya MCAs stalled projects
Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati has called for the closing of ranks with Ford Kenya party leader Moses Wetang’ula saying their rivalry is affecting development in the county.
Wangamati lamented that his fall-out with Wetang’ula had adversely affected service delivery after MCAs allied to the Ford-K leader ganged up against him.
He was speaking on Wednesday at Nalondo Stadium in Kabuchai during Madaraka Day celebrations. Wangamati was elected in 2017 on a Ford Kenya ticket but has since decamped to the National Democratic Action Party of Kenya (DAP-K).
Decamped to DAP-K
He said: “I have suffered as the governor because members of Bungoma County assembly allied to Senator Wetang’ula have given me sleepless nights over the past years”.
He called on Wetang’ula to emulate Uhuru Kenyatta who, in 2007, set aside his differences with then-President Mwai Kibaki and supported his re-election despite being the official opposition leader.
Wetang’ula parted ways with Wangamati after the 2017 polls that led to an attempted coup in Ford Kenya.
Later, he was quoted in the media admitting he was the chief architect of the failed coup, accusing Wetang’ula of poor leadership.
He had teamed up with Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi and Tongaren MP Eseli Simiyu to overthrow Wetang’ula.
Then Wangamati and his allies ditched Ford Kenya and joined the DAP-K party, which is associated with Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa.
Wamunyinyi and Eseli have since joined DAP-K as party leaders and Secretary-General, respectively.
Wetang’ula then teamed up with Senate Speaker Kenneth Lusaka, the Ford Kenya candidate for Bungoma gubernatorial seat.
Said Wangamati: “You will see what I will do for you; this place is where I come from. I was raised in this constituency. My people, support my bid”.
Gubernatorial aspirants are set to be cleared by the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) starting this weekend.
