By BERNARD NAMUNANE 

October 25 will mark a new turning point in the life of Ford-Kenya, one of the key partners in the ruling National Rainbow Coalition. It is on this day that the late Vice-President Michael Wamalwa's successor as Ford-K chairman will be picked. The new leader, observers feel, will either turn the party into a political force to reckon with or throw it down the political abyss.

Many of the Ford-K leaders are insisting that the party must not be dissolved, as a prelude to forging a stronger Narc. But the dissolution idea has been backed by Environment minister Newton Kulundu, the party's Lurambi MP.

Three top politicians have thrown their hats into the ring, hoping to succeed Mr Wamalwa, who until his death last August, was the MP for Saboti in Trans Nzoia District.

Trade and Industry minister Mukhisa Kituyi, his Regional Development counterpart, Mr Musikari Kombo, and Kwanza MP Dr Noah Wekesa are the candidates.

As the clamour to dissolve the parties under Narc continues, there is some apprehension about such a move among a cross-section of leaders who do not see the likelihood of one dominant party emerging. They argue that coalitions are here to stay.

Ikolomani MP Bonny Khalwale, who belongs to the Ford-K wing of Narc, says: "It appears we shall be ruled by coalitions for long and each party has to grow strong on its own in order to bargain with others."

Foreign Affairs assistant minister Moses Wetangula says Ford-K should be revitalised and its nationwide branch network strengthened.

"Though it is the party of the moment in Western Province, the elections should give it a more national outlook," says the Sirisia MP.

Trade unionist Ismail Yunis, from the coast, who is the second national vice-chairman, has been acting chairman since Mr Wamalwa's death.

The other national officials are Assistant minister John Munyes (secretary-general), Mrs Jael Mbogo (organising secretary), Mr Achieng Oneko (treasurer), Dr Wekesa (director of elections), Mr Gervasse Akhaabi (secretary, legal affairs), and Mr Mohammed Galgalo (secretary for publicity).

Dr Kituyi is the assistant secretary-general, while Mr Kombo is the party's secretary for policy affairs.

The party's top organ, the National Executive Committee, met in Nairobi on Thursday, and decided that the chairman should be elected by the General Council. The last National Delegates' Conference held at Thika, mandated the general council to elect leaders of the party.

It is made up of the 42-member National Executive Council, the party's 20 MPs and 140 branch chairmen and secretaries.

The fight for the chairmanship is increasingly being seen as a two-horse race between Dr Kituyi and Mr Kombo, with Dr Wekesa coming a distant third.

But Dr Wekesa and Mumias MP Wycliffe Osundwa feel that the Cabinet ministers have their hands full with their official duties and would not provide the effective leadership needed by the party.

Mr Osundwa accuses the politicians from Bungoma District of "monopolising" the party since Mr Wamalwa succeeded Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.

"We want the chairman to come from another district precisely because Ford-K is not a Bukusu affair," he says.

Dr Wekesa's strength lies in his sterling role as the chairman of the National Alliance Party of Kenya (NAK) co-ordinating committee that led to the formation of National Rainbow Coalition.

Says Mr Osundwa: "He proved that he can lead and we should give him that opportunity." 

Bungoma District has been bedrock of Ford-K support since Mr Wamalwa took over its leadership.

Dr Wekesa's handicap is that he belongs to the tiny Tachoni sub-tribe of the Luhya.

On his part, Bumula MP Sylvester Wakoli would prefer the election of a Cabinet minister as Ford-K chairman.

Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi says: "Mr Kombo is the best placed to enhance the late Michael Wamalwa's legacy."

A National Delegates Conference delegate, Mrs Kellan Wabwomba, says: "Mr Kombo is a sober politician who has been consulting widely with leaders at the grassroots and deserves support by general council to fill the vacant slot".

Webuye Mayor Crispus Wamoyo says: "Mr Kombo ranks above the other contestants in stature, having been a student of the late Masinde Muliro and a close associate of Michael Wamalwa."

The mayor cites Mr Kombo's chairmanship of the Parliamentary Anti-Corruption Committee in the last Parliament, which came up with the famous "List of Shame," as evidence of his astuteness.

Mr Kombo has apparently attracted a large number of MPs to his side. Among them are Mr Wetangula, Mr Wamunyinyi, Dr Enock Kibunguchy (Lugari), and Mr Wakoli.

The Regional Development minister himself says: "I have lived the party's aspirations, shared its joys and sorrows. I have a higher political calling, which dictates the party must only achieve higher strides." 

Dr Kituyi, on his part, a thorough professional and an aggressive politician of wit. The Kimilili MP is also the longest serving legislator in Ford-K, who is serving his third term in Parliament.

Reputed for his yearn for independence, he has long sought to carve his own political niche.

In so doing, quite often, he was labelled as being opposed to the late Wamalwa's leadership.

However, the Bungoma Professionals Group, of which both ministers are members, defined the aspect of independence of mind to be an asset.

Says Mr David Situma, a Nairobi architect: "That is what a politician is supposed to do. You can't always hold onto somebody's tail."

The Bungoma elite believe that Dr Kituyi, at 48, is the right candidate to package for the 2012 presidential elections.

They have set their eyes on 2012, because they believe that President Kibaki will go for a second term when his first term ends in 2007. In Dr Kituyi, they see a new effective leader to replace the late Wamalwa.

"By that year, Dr Mukhisa will be 58 and Mr Kombo will be 71. It is Mukhisa's generation that will lead," said the group's leader, Mr James Wanyonyi.

The Kimilili MP's undoing, however, lies in what is perceived to be his know-it-all attitude which some call arrogance.

Dr Kituyi, who has served in the Cabinet longer than Mr Kombo, is seen to enjoy the support of politicians from President Kibaki's Central Kenya.

Says Budalangi MP Raphael Wanjala: "We want a chairman who can stand on his own feet and make his stand clear; not a person to be swayed." The ability of each candidate to woo support among the Ford-K leaders countrywide will determine who wins the poll on Saturday.

Dr Kituyi, who launched his campaign in Mombasa, moved to Western Province this weekend. Mr Kombo, who started out in Western Province, is headed for other parts of the country. 

Whoever gets the top seat will face a great challenge: to chart a new course for Ford-K in the absence of Mr Wamalwa so the party can remain relevant in national politics.

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