National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has suffered a major political blow after a FORD Kenya candidate lost the Chwele-Kabachai ward representative contest to an Independent candidate by a wide margin.
Source: Facebook
Eric Wekesa (Independent) was declared the winner after garnering 6,162 votes (67%), defeating FORD Kenya’s Vincent Maunda, who secured 2,765.
Other candidates in the race were Samwel Joel Barasa (65), Phanice Sebenzia Kutswa (52), Kizito Mukhongo (25), Margeret Nambwala Toili (4), Elizabeth Situma Murunga (17), Dan Simiyu Tanganyika (29), and Evans Barasa Wanyonyi (41).
How did Wekesa beat FORD Kenya?
Maunda and Wekesa faced off in 2022 in another tight contest, where the former finished second and the latter came in third, separated by about 200 votes.
However, Wekesa, a young, vibrant and eloquent speaker, dusted himself off swiftly and went back to the people. He revamped his campaign strategy to target the youth and women.
He also leveraged social media and vernacular radio stations to brand himself as a peacemaker and portray the FORD Kenya camp as violent and destructive.
His candidature was bolstered by the endorsement and support of top leaders such as George Natembeya and former Bungoma governor, Wycliffe Wangamati and Kabuchai MP Majimbo Kalasinga, among others.
Kalasinga was elected on FORD Kenya ticket but has since fallen out with his party leader.
So fragile and hostile is the relationship between Kalasinga and the National Assembly Speaker that they have openly exchanged verbal tirades.
When FORD Kenya endorsed Maunda, the outspoken MP revolted and backed Wekesa.
Politics of violence, death and destruction
On Saturday, November 22, Natembeya led a series of rallies in the ward to drum up support for Wekesa. His convoy was attacked by goons, resulting in injuries and the destruction of cars.
Two people were killed, and scores were injured during the confrontations.
On the same day, Kalasinga’s house was stoned and vandalised by goons.
The incident happened just a few weeks after the lawmaker’s restaurant was destroyed and looted by a group of youths armed with crude weapons. He said over 20 TV sets and other valuables were looted during the raid, estimating the total loss to be over 2 million.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
