REPOSITIONING OF FORD KENYA PARTY TO RECLAIM ITS RIGHTFUL POSITION IN KENYAS NATIONAL POLITICAL DYNAMISM

Ford Kenya is the longest party in Kenya after KANU. It was the party that led to the re-introduction of multi-party democracy in Kenya after the re-pealing of section 2A of the colonial constitution in 1992. It is a party that is associated with key personalities who served this nation in key capacities and led to tremendous political revolutions in this country.

1. Late Masinde Muliro 

2. Late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga 

3. Late Kenneth Matiba 

4. Late Martin Shikuku 

The party FORD split into factions Ford Kenya, Ford Asili, and Ford People Following greed for leadership and cheap incitements from grassroots members whose interest was not helping the party grow but getting recognized by leaders and getting tokenism.

The Ford Kenya brigade led by Oginga Odinga after the death of Masinde Muliro had the majority of followers whose position was to give an alternative leadership to the then KANU that was impartial and discriminative in leadership and allocation of resources based on ethnicity.

KANU was a party that could not accommodate individuals that could submit contrary opinions,, For instance, Jaramogi Odinga was among the key founders of KANU way back in 1960 together with James Gichuru they were to take the leadership of this nation at the time when colonialism had lost its shine and shin but for being selfless they insisted on the release of the Kepenguria six and thus frontiered the late president of Jomo Kenyatta. Oginga being the Vice President after the evisceration of the dominion status that made Kenyatta President from Prime minister, Jaramogi believed that consensus would be the mode of operation and opinions were to be allowed whether supportive of contri. But the president was engulfed by the trappings of power and equally misadvised by his close associates from his ethnic group. 

Leadership had become a family affair the Africanism or nationalism that led to the ending of colonialism had shuttered away hence opinions of party members were never considered anymore thus, a member was forced to operate on direction from the king master who wasn't present during the formation and thus could not understand the foundational reasons of the formation of it. This made Oginga ditch the party for he could not stand the dictatorship. The blocking of alternative ideology was sealed when the country was turned into a single-party state thus anyone opposing it was subject to being branded an opponent of the state. Leading to assassinations. When wisdom prevailed upon the late President Moi and repealed section 2A in 1992 and allowed multi-party in Kenya majority felt relieved. However, it devised a strategy of weakening the opposition party by having them divided on the principle of ethnicity and superiority incitements among the leaders thus leading to the split of FORD.

When Jaramogi the leader of Ford Kenya died in 1994 his vice chairman the late Hon Michael Christopher wamalwa kijana took over some members felt uncomfortable and hence insisted on an election which was arranged and out of it following the dissatisfaction by Hon Raila Odinga it led to the formation of LDP. 

Kenya as a party has had its trials and t, challenges in obeying the party structures and constitution despite this late Hon Wamalwa Kijana managed to maintain the team through and through. Until they formed the government in 2002 through a coalition of parties NARC. The unfortunate befell Ford Kenya just before tasting the fruits of leadership when Wamalwa died in 2003 and following the greed of party members if not strategy applied to finish the party by then as Hon Moody Awori was given the mantle. Inter-party conflicts started again between Hon Mukhisa Kituyi and Hon Musikari Kombo on who to take over and thus since each had followers pulling the party almost got torn. Though Hon Kombo took charge as Hon Mukhisa left the party did not do much since it was becoming a community party affair. In the following general election only managed to get one member Hon Eseli Simiyu.  Greed had taken root in the party including the election of party officials at the grassroots which included hand-picking of individuals who could support the sitting leaders as opposed to having leaders that could bring ideas intended to have the party grow. This syndrome weakened the party further Kombo had his honeymoon and left the stage into New Ford Kenya thus leaving it to Rt Hon Moses Masika Wetangula who has tried to revive the party and bring it to the national competitive scale

Taking it back to a national scale calls for many things to be considered including strategy and grassroots mobilization.

Internal fights never ceased reports as " so and so is not supporting you" *so and so is doing this and that" and scrutiny shows that this disease is influenced by the handpicked grassroots leaders whose mission is recognition. Except for the attempted coup that was supported by external forces. Such an incident was in 2020 Dec 22nd when a Tongaren constituency comrade was meeting organized by Hon Eseli and in that meeting, instead of addressing issues affecting the comrade, it became a party reporting forum condemning Hon Stephen Wamalwa MCA Soysambu/Mitua ward on baseless grounds very unprecedented in the history of modern civilization. Political incitements from grassroots and external forces are eating it.

Rt Hon Moses Wetangula with unique wisdom ignored such invitations to condemn the MCA and later the in tiers became the victims of circumstances.

In 2017 the Bumula contest for the MP seat was c Ford Kenya but toor misgivings that misinformed the top leadership caused them to lose to the independent candidate. Sometimes it's good to listen to opinions from the locals which will inform the sober decision-making of the party. following concerns are Germain;

1. Did the party field a candidate in Bumula in 2022?

2. What about in Sirisia constituency?

3. Did we have one in the Kimilili constituency?

4. If yes, what does it inform the party for the future?

Another fact that may not sound good is H.E. Kenneth Lusaka in his second coming was clear that the Bungoma County electorate had demanded and this was following the misgiving of the then Governor. Supposing he had run on another party still Lusaka could pause a threat to the candidate fielded by Ford Kenya. It became an advantage for him to join the party. It is important of listening to the ground.

Trans-nzoia county was of Ford Kenya Hon Khaemba who served full term but why is it that it lost to DAP? Poor service delivery by the former Governor who was a member of the party was one of the reason 

Secondly, the common mwanainchi was not thoroughly interrogated to get to know what they wanted. 

Currently, all elected leaders who got a chance through the Ford Kenya party are very important in having that party grow. There should be mutual respect among them ways ought to be found of reaching out to bring more able and potential candidates to the party like since it lost Trans-nzoia gubernatorial seat. A strategy ought to be found to reclaim it back and even add another county to have at least three or four counties for Ford Kenya cone 2027.  Ways ought to be found to have all Bungoma county MPs be in Ford Kenya and by extension. Trans-nzoia and even Busia of not Kakamega and other regions of the country.

There is a need to have at least 5 senators belonging to Ford Kenya  

This signal that there is a long way to go. Which doesn't call for unnecessary incitements and intimidation like the one recently noticed. Democracy which is on the last letter of the party name presupposes that members are free to offer opinions and should not be tagged whatsoever with anything. In so doing they will be marketing the party for members who like freedom of opinion will join it.

In-house issues should not be discussed in public for the opponent can learn some of the weaknesses and capitalize on that coalition whether ruling or opposition ought not to make the subjects slaves!!! Differing in one opinion doesn't mean all there is next time and who knows maybe it may rhyme next time. This party has the PL who is focused on being the President of this nation in the future supporters should be advised to be very keen in nurturing their flag to invite more members. And thus give him strength. A lake that has more inflows is better than the one with a lot of exits. 

As wamalwa kijana said" Let all cards be played on top of the table ....it is better to know who played a wrong card on top of the table than having 20cards played under the table" In a nutshell Chinua Achebe said - it is the fear of causing an offense that makes men swallow poison.

Ford Kenya is a passionate democracy and it is in a better position to run this country shortly... don't prolong this golden opportunity to lead this nation by entering into unnecessary internal knuckles and fighting for superiority within the party.