By SIMBI KUSIMBA 
and LUKE KAPCHANGA 

Three Bungoma MPs have asked Trade and Industry minister Mukhisa Kituyi to step down in favour of his Regional Development counterpart Musikari Kombo in the race for the Ford Kenya chairmanship.

Mr Wafula Wamunyinyi (Kanduyi), Mr Sylvester Wakoli (Bumula) and Mr Moses Wetangula (Sirisia) surprised Dr Kituyi at a funds drive in his Kimilili constituency when they told him that he should respect the will of the people of Western Province that Mr Kombo head Ford-K.

Dr Kituyi had invited several Ford-K national officials from North Eastern and Coast provinces to the funds drive.

The MPs told the meeting, presided over by National Security minister Chris Murungaru at Kewa Primary School, that there was no need to project the local community as divided "simply because of being a democrat."

Mr Wamunyinyi told Dr Kituyi: "You and I were close relatives of Vice-President Michael Wamalwa and I feel I should have been the chairman of the party. But the die has been cast and we in this area are saying that you should leave this seat for Mr Kombo."

Mr Wetangula said: "I have personally asked Dr Kituyi to step down and we are still talking with Mr Kombo. But he has been out of the country and Bungoma MPs have forged unity. When you see him next, ask him where your fellow Bungoma MPs are."

Mr Kombo said Ford-K needed to be strengthened and not dissolved.

Earlier at a function at Marakaru Primary School, Mr Wetangula said LDP MPs from Western Province were being wooed to join Ford-K.

He said Ford-K leaders were keen on welcoming Vice-President Moody Awori and legislators George Khaniri, Andrew Ligale, Kenneth Marende and Fred Gumo "so that the people of Western Province can speak with one voice.

"Let no one imagine that Ford-K will be dissolved. We are in the era of coalition politics for a long time and no one party can ever amass enough votes to win a general election on its own," the Foreign Affairs assistant minister said.

In another development, Mr Kombo's bid for the Ford-K chairmanship received a major boost at the weekend when nine Rift Valley branches supported him for Saturday's polls.

At a meeting in an Eldoret hotel attended by Lugari MP Enock Kibunguchi, delegates from the Uasin Gishu, Trans Nzoia, Keiyo, Baringo, Marakwet, Koibatek, Nandi, Trans Nzoia, Turkana and West Pokot branches said: "We are confident his leadership can take the party through the political challenges currently facing the country."

Additional reporting by Lucas Barasa

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