Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula has been declared Ford Kenya’s presidential candidate.
In a chaotic National Delegates Congress in Bomas of Kenya, Wetangula was also re-elected as the party leader but will have two deputies, Millicent Abudho and Innocent Obiri.
In his address to the delegates, Wetang’ula reaffirmed his commitment to One Kenya Alliance.
“I thank delegates for giving me the opportunity to lead Ford Kenya as it engages other like-minded parties in readiness for 2022 general election,” he said.
His fellowOKA co-principals (KANU) leader Gideon Moi and (Wiper) Kalonzo Musyoka were present.
ANC party leader Musalia Mudavadi was represented at the meeting by Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala.
Wetang’ula promised Kenyans that the OKA alliance will hold together and form the next government.
He promised that if he is given the opportunity by other leaders to be the alliance flagbearer, and is elected president, he will ensure that the country takes it’s rightful position in the global stage.
“Kenya will be a key player in every arena where sollutions of conflict are found,” he said.
During his endorsement, gun shots disrupted the ongoing outlawed conference at by a rival faction group aligned to the party.
Morris Munyasia was shot in his right arm and was rushed to Kenyatta National Hospital for emergency treatment.
It was not immediately clear who had shot him.
Elsewhere, a rival faction led by Tongaren MP Eseli Simiyu and his Kanduyi counterpart Wafula Wamunyiyi called a press conference to dismiss the NDC, saying it was an exercise in futility.
“I will not call that an NDC but a get together of some Ford Kenya members. There are orders stopping the meeting,” he said.
He announced that they had put on hold their NDC as ordered by Political Parties and Disputes Tribunal.
The tribunal had stopped the two parallel NDCs, one called by a faction led by Wetang’ula and the other by Eseli’s wing following a petition by Chrispinus Barasa.