By Nelson Musungu, Bungoma
Ford Kenya’s Kabuchai sub-branch elections have triggered fresh divisions in the party after Kabuchai MP Majimbo Kalasinga accused the leadership of sidelining him in the exercise.
During the polls, West Nalondo Ward MCA Polycarp Kimeta Wandabusi was elected as the new Ford Kenya Chairperson for Kabuchai Sub-branch.
The seat fell vacant following the death of Barasa Mukhongo, the former MCA for Chwele/Kabuchai Ward. Wandabusi won by a landslide, securing 16 votes against his closest challenger, Meshack Museveni, who garnered six.
At the same event, Luuya/Bwake Ward MCA Edwin Opwora was elected unopposed as Vice Chairperson.
Joel Wekesa was also elected Kabuchai Youth Leader, succeeding his predecessor who was appointed Assistant Chief in Mukuyuni.
However, the elections quickly descended into controversy after MP Kalasinga disowned the process, accusing Bungoma County Ford Kenya Chairperson and County Woman Representative Catherine Wambilianga of running a non-inclusive exercise.
“How can my colleague and fellow MP, who is the Ford Kenya county chair, call for elections in the very constituency I represent without involving me? Is this a way of throwing me out of the party?” posed Kalasinga. “I am the oldest Ford Kenya member in Kabuchai and I am here to stay.”
The legislator dismissed the outcome as illegitimate and called on both Wambilianga and Ford Kenya Secretary General John Chikati to nullify the results.
“Let the party chair and secretary general call for free and fair elections. If the delegates openly decide who should be Kabuchai chair, I will respect that outcome. But what happened today was a sham and an embarrassment to the people of Kabuchai,” he declared.
Kalasinga further claimed that it was unfair for the party to use his financial contributions to conduct elections without involving him.
“As an MP, I contribute KSh 50,000 every month to run the party’s affairs. It is very unfair for the party to use my donations to organize elections without even informing me,” he said.
The MP insisted that Ford Kenya must uphold fairness and inclusivity in its activities, warning that shutting out key stakeholders would only embarrass the party and weaken its unity in Kabuchai.
He cautioned that if such political games continue, Ford Kenya should brace itself for a mass exodus.
