Munyes joins Jubilee as Lusaka leads New Ford Kenya dissolution

Turkana Senator John Munyes has bid farewell to his party, Ford Kenya, joining the long list of politicians who have decamped to the yet-to-be launched Jubilee Party.

Speaking during the New Ford-Kenya delegates meeting at the Bomas of Kenya, the Ford Kenya Chairman said he was compelled by the new wave of change which was sweeping across the country.

“I have no otherwise but to say goodbye to them (opposition). Jubilee seems to be the party that will bring the desired developments in Kenya,” said Munyes.

His departure is a blow to Ford-Kenya and its presidential aspirant, Moses Wetangula. Early this week, the party’s only Governor, Patrick Khaemba of Trans Nzoi, said he was shifting his political allegiance to Jubilee.

However, Munyes party (Ford Kenya) remains deeply rooted in CORD with its leader, Moses Wetangula, hoping to fly the opposition’s presidential flag in the 2017 contest.

During the adoption of the party (New Ford Kenya) resolution to dissolve and join the Jubilee Party, its leader, Governor Ken Lusaka of Bungoma, said that the dissolution was not a sign of weakness.

“With deep feelings of attachment, today we free ourselves to the hope of realising a united Kenya. As we close shop to New Ford Kenya, we do not do this as a sign of weakness. It is not a function of desperation. It is an act of patriotic courage,” said Lusaka.

“This country must assemble the confidence to run away from tribal entities, and focus on the possibility of being tied together in ideas, in the pursuit of integrity, in equity and committing ourselves to refusing to be divided along the thin lines of ethnic profiling.”

Lusaka said that they were neither coerced nor compromised to dissolve the party.

“We have not been coerced, we have not been compromised. Those who have attempted to define the cause as ‘tumbocracy’ must be reminded of history. That the founders of our nation and apostles of our belief in democracy, moved from small entities to bigger ones,” added Lusaka.

“I specifically remind us that our hero, Masinde Muliro moved from KADU to KANU for greater national duty. The late Wamalwa Kijana had to reach out to Charity Ngilu and Mwai Kibaki to actualise the second liberation.”

“And it is not just that. We should also look globally, that only fools remain stuck in one place. Ladies, and gentlemen, I believe that Wamalwa Kijana said a better idea is worth embracing. The idea of establishing ideologically-based political parties will give Kenya the desired renaissance of valuing bigger things, and not majoring on minor, negative things of ethnicity.”

He said that by leading the merger, he had not betrayed “your confidence and trust through the process of negotiating with our colleagues”.

“So, I invite us now to take a ride on the trust I have seen in His Excellency the President and His Excellency the Deputy President do of surrendering ourselves to Jubilee Party.”

He said that Ford Kenya moves to Jubilee Party as an equal partner adding that the future is now brighter.