Ford-K won’t fold and join UDA, Wetang’ula and top party organ declare
As political formations emerge and more coalitions expected to arise ahead of the 2027 general elections, Ford Kenya party that is an affiliate party of the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition has affirmed its position that the party will not fold to join the ruling party UDA that is led by President William Ruto.
In a closed door meeting led by party leader who is also the Speaker of the National Assembly Moses Masika Wetang’ula, Ford Kenya senior party officials resolved that their party will not fold the way Amani National Congress (ANC) that was led by Prime Cabinet Secretary and Cabinet Secretary for Foreign and Diaspora Affairs Musalia Mudavadi did and joined UDA.
Despite not being part of the team that addressed the media after the meeting, Speaker Wetang’ula’s message was passed across clearly and loudly by the party secretary general Dr. John Murumba Chikati and deputy party leader Governor Ken Lusaka of Bungoma County.
“Yes it is true that there was a rumour moving out there about folding of political parties but nobody came to us to as us to fold our party and even if they came to us I want to assure you that we cannot accept to fold Ford Kenya party that is the second oldest party in Kenya after KAU and it is our heritage,” SG Chikati told journalists.
On his part the deputy party leader Ken Lusaka said that Ford Kenya is not like other parties that are just formed for the sake of elections and after elections they vanish in thin air, he insisted that Ford Kenya is the rock of Kenyans who believe in its ideologies and is going nowhere.
The leaders who were mandated by their Party leader and speaker of national assembly Moses Wetang’ula who left in a hush after the meeting pointed out that the party will continue to form coalitions in the current government and future governments with like minded political parties but can not close shop.
Ford Kenya’s declaration comes a few months after another political party with roots in the former Western Province ANC that was led by Musalia Mudavadi accepted to close shop and join President Ruto’s UDA party.
Rebranding the party
At the same time the Lion party has revealed plas to have it rebranded to bear a new face that embraces youthful and national outlook to have a national perview within the party.
The rebranding mandate has been given to Kanduyi MP John Makali who has one month to come up with the rebranding strategy to be endorsed by the party leadership.
“We have said that the party is going to be rebranded so that it can have a national outlook that should go with the modern days bringing in the image of the youth within the party and have a national perview within the party,” said Secretary General John Chikati.
According to the leaders, the party is also slated to conduct a massive recruitment drive in all the 47 counties to improve on membership and the numbers that will see the party regain its lost glory and win elective seats across the country.
Apart from the party leader Moses Wetangula, the SG John Chikati and deputy party leaders Governor Ken Lusaka, the meeting was also attended by MPs Ferdinad wanyonyi of Kwanza, John Makali o Kanduyi, Martin Pepela Wanyonyi of Webuye East and Senator Wafula Wakoli of Bungoma among other officials including MCAs from the party’s strongholds.
