FORD-Kenya party leader Moses Wetang’ula has trounced allies-turned foes Wafula Wamunyinyi (Kanduyi) and Eseli Simiyu (Tongaren) in Tuesday’s General Election.
Wamunyinyi and Eseli, who are Democratic Action Party of Kenya Party Leader and Secretary General respectively, lost their parliamentary seats to FORD-Kenya candidates in the polls.
In the Kanduyi parliamentary race, FORD-Kenya’s John Makali emerged the winner after garnering 32,099 votes against Wamunyinyi’s 20,240 votes.
ODM’s Alfred Khang’ati came third with 12,970 votes.
In Tongaren race, John Chikati of FORD-Kenya trounced Eseli after garnering 20,108 votes. Eseli only managed 9,802 votes.
Wamunyinyi and Eseli were in FORD-Kenya before they fell out with Wetang’ula and joined DAP-K.
Overall, Wetang’ula delivered his home county of Bungoma to Deputy President William Ruto. Wamunyinyi and Eseli had endeavored to make the county a DAP-K stronghold.
Provisional results on Thursday morning showed Ruto had garnered 229,409 votes in Bungoma which represented 63.15 per cent of the ballots counted.
Azimio’s Raila Odinga had 13,478 votes which represented 35.92 per cent of the ballots counted.
DAP-K is an affiliate of Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Alliance. The party is associated with Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa.
Eseli and Wamunyinyi ditched FORD-Kenya and joined DAP-K in December last year.
The two have been involved in a protracted battle with Wetang’ula over control of FORD-Kenya.
Wamunyinyi and Eseli moved to DAP-K and received tens of defectors from FORD-Kenya.
Wrangles in FORD-Kenya started in May 2020 after a section of its leaders resolved to dismiss Wetang’ula on the grounds of gross misconduct.
Wetang’ula was purportedly replaced by the Kanduyi MP as the interim Party Leader but the Bungoma senator rushed to court to stop the move.
Eseli has accused the Bungoma senator of hiding behind courts to remain as Party Leader. It was not long before Eseli and Wamunyinyi ditched FORD-Kenya.
Source: The Star