Ford-Kenya political party
Encyclopedia
FORD–Kenya is a Kenya
n political party and was part of the ruling NARC
coalition that ended forty years of KANU
rule in Kenya
. It is headed by Hon Moses Wetangula, the MP
for Sirisia Constituency
.
.
Kenya was a one party state until December 1991, when a special conference of the ruling Kenya African National Union
(KANU) party agreed to introduce a multiparty political system.
An umbrella political grouping, The Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (FORD) had been formed in August 1991 by six opposition leaders to fight for change in the country. But President Daniel arap Moi
had outlawed it, and its leaders had been arrested and detained. They were released only after sustained pressure from Britain, the USA and Scandinavia
n countries.
In August 1992 Ford split into two factions - Ford-Asili (led by Kenneth Matiba
) and Ford-Kenya (led by Oginga Odinga). Ford Kenya performed poorly in the general elections of 1992, coming a distant third behind KANU and FORD-Asili
. The reelection of President Moi and KANU, both deeply unpopular, owed much to the division of the original Ford.
Oginga Odinga died in January 1994, and was succeeded as Chairman of Ford-Kenya by Michael Wamalwa Kijana
. At the time, Ford Kenya's leadership included some of the top opposition leaders in Kenya, including lawyer James Orengo
, economist
Professor Peter Anyang' Nyong'o
, Raila Odinga
, the son of Oginga Odinga, Oburu Odinga
, Raila's elder brother, environmentalist (and, later on, Nobel
laureate) Wangari Maathai
, and many others. But the party was headed for yet another split.
Michael Wamalwa and Raila Odinga tussled over the leadership of Ford-Kenya for 2 years: in 1997, Wamalwa beat Odinga in free and fair party elections, precipitating a devastating tribal split that the party is now recovering from. Raila, with a sizeable number of Luo MP's, left Ford-Kenya to join the National Development Party
of Kenya (NDP). In the 1997 general elections, Ford-Kenya came a lowly fourth, behind Raila's NDP.
, for the presidency. Kibaki trounced the KANU candidate, Uhuru Kenyatta
, and formed a government of national unity. He appointed Ford-Kenya's leader, Michael Wamalwa Vice President
, as well as giving a number of cabinet
positions to Ford-Kenya MP's.
to succeed Wamalwa. Kombo beat another Ford Kenya MP, Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi
, in the contest.
Ford-Kenya under Musikari Kombo has been a remarkable party. With neither the charisma of Michael Wamalwa nor the crowd-pulling popularity of Raila Odinga, Kombo has struggled to establish the party as an influential component of the ruling coalition. The party has felt shortchanged after the death of Wamalwa: the prized position of Vice President was handed to the LDP's Moody Awori
, while a number of other appointments have also gone the way of other parties. Musikari Kombo showed his mantle as the Ford-Kenya Chairman when he led his party MPs in rejecting their appointment to the newly reconstituted cabinet after the constitutional referendum of 2005
. This forced President Mwai Kibaki
to take Mr. Kombo and Ford-Kenya seriously and increase the number of Ford-Kenya cabinet ministers to 6 from 3 and acquire other senior civil service appointments for its party members.
In March 2007, a breakaway party known as New Ford Kenya was registered . It was formed by cabinet minister Soita Shitanda
. Mukhisa Kituyi later joined the party. .
At the Kenyan general election, 2007
, Ford-Kenya aligned with the newly-created Party of National Unity
led by President Mwai Kibaki . It ran, however, its own candidates in a number of places. This time the election results were very poor. With 1/4 of constituencies not yet decided Ford-K managed only to hold to one seat. The party went through numerous court cases trying to get a new leader after Komos leadership period ended, a process which Hon Wetangula take the leadership mandle of the party through a national degates congress elections.
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
n political party and was part of the ruling NARC
National Rainbow Coalition
The National Rainbow Coalition was a coalition of Kenyan political parties in power from 2002 and 2005 when it fell apart in a controversy between its wings about a constitutional referendum.-Formation:...
coalition that ended forty years of KANU
KANU
KANU or Kanu may refer to:*Kenya African National Union*KANU , a radio station licensed to Lawrence, Kansas, United States*Kanu - a kabuki play*Kanu Hawaii, a Hawaii based non profit...
rule in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. It is headed by Hon Moses Wetangula, the MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
for Sirisia Constituency
Sirisia Constituency
Sirisia Constituency is an electoral constituency in Kenya. It is one of five constituencies in Bungoma District. The constituency was established for the 1988 elections.- Members of Parliament :- Locations and wards :...
.
History
The history of Ford-Kenya is essentially the history of multi-party politics in KenyaKenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
.
Kenya was a one party state until December 1991, when a special conference of the ruling Kenya African National Union
Kenya African National Union
The Kenya African National Union, better known as KANU is a political party which ruled Kenya for nearly 40 years after its independence from British colonial rule in 1963, until its electoral loss at the end of 2002...
(KANU) party agreed to introduce a multiparty political system.
An umbrella political grouping, The Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (FORD) had been formed in August 1991 by six opposition leaders to fight for change in the country. But President Daniel arap Moi
Daniel arap Moi
Daniel Toroitich arap Moi was the President of Kenya from 1978 until 2002.Daniel arap Moi is popularly known to Kenyans as 'Nyayo', a Swahili word for 'footsteps'...
had outlawed it, and its leaders had been arrested and detained. They were released only after sustained pressure from Britain, the USA and Scandinavia
Scandinavia
Scandinavia is a cultural, historical and ethno-linguistic region in northern Europe that includes the three kingdoms of Denmark, Norway and Sweden, characterized by their common ethno-cultural heritage and language. Modern Norway and Sweden proper are situated on the Scandinavian Peninsula,...
n countries.
In August 1992 Ford split into two factions - Ford-Asili (led by Kenneth Matiba
Kenneth Matiba
Kenneth Matiba is a Kenyan politician. He was the second-place candidate in the 1992 presidential election.Matiba became a senior civil servant at a young age of 31...
) and Ford-Kenya (led by Oginga Odinga). Ford Kenya performed poorly in the general elections of 1992, coming a distant third behind KANU and FORD-Asili
Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Asili
The Forum for the Restoration of Democracy–Asili is a political party in Kenya. It is commonly known as FORD-Asili. Asili means 'original' in SwahiliFORD-Asili has its origins in the original Forum for the Restoration of Democracy...
. The reelection of President Moi and KANU, both deeply unpopular, owed much to the division of the original Ford.
Oginga Odinga died in January 1994, and was succeeded as Chairman of Ford-Kenya by Michael Wamalwa Kijana
Michael Wamalwa Kijana
Michael Wamalwa Kijana was a Kenyan politician and, at the time of his death, Kenya's Vice-President.-Early life:...
. At the time, Ford Kenya's leadership included some of the top opposition leaders in Kenya, including lawyer James Orengo
James Orengo
James Orengo, is a lawyer and former presidential candidate in Kenya. He comes from Ugenya Constituency of Siaya District; he was educated at Ambira Primary School and the Alliance High School. He is law graduate of the University of Nairobi where he was the student body president in his final year...
, economist
Economist
An economist is a professional in the social science discipline of economics. The individual may also study, develop, and apply theories and concepts from economics and write about economic policy...
Professor Peter Anyang' Nyong'o
Peter Anyang' Nyong'o
Peter Anyang' Nyong'o is a Kenyan politician. He is the Secretary-General of the Orange Democratic Movement and was elected to the National Assembly of Kenya in the December 2007 parliamentary election, representing the Kisumu Rural Constituency. r. Peter Anyang' Nyong' is the Minister for Medical...
, Raila Odinga
Raila Odinga
Raila Amollo Odinga , also popularly known to Kenyans as Agwambo, is a Kenyan politician, currently serving as the Prime Minister of Kenya in a coalition government. He has served as a Member of Parliament for Langata since 1992, was Minister of Energy from 2001 to 2002, and was Minister of Roads,...
, the son of Oginga Odinga, Oburu Odinga
Oburu Odinga
Oburu Odinga is a Kenyan MP. He is the assistant minister for finance in the 2008 Grand Coalition government.Oburu is from well known Odinga political family, his brother Raila Odinga is the favourite presidential candidate and his late father Jaramogi Oginga Odinga was a prominent politician at...
, Raila's elder brother, environmentalist (and, later on, Nobel
Nobel Prize
The Nobel Prizes are annual international awards bestowed by Scandinavian committees in recognition of cultural and scientific advances. The will of the Swedish chemist Alfred Nobel, the inventor of dynamite, established the prizes in 1895...
laureate) Wangari Maathai
Wangari Maathai
Wangari Muta Mary Jo Maathai was a Kenyan environmental and political activist. She was educated in the United States at Mount St. Scholastica and the University of Pittsburgh, as well as the University of Nairobi in Kenya...
, and many others. But the party was headed for yet another split.
Michael Wamalwa and Raila Odinga tussled over the leadership of Ford-Kenya for 2 years: in 1997, Wamalwa beat Odinga in free and fair party elections, precipitating a devastating tribal split that the party is now recovering from. Raila, with a sizeable number of Luo MP's, left Ford-Kenya to join the National Development Party
National Development Party (Kenya)
The National Development Party was political party in Kenya which was of national importance between 1994 and 2001.-Becoming Odinga's party:...
of Kenya (NDP). In the 1997 general elections, Ford-Kenya came a lowly fourth, behind Raila's NDP.
2002 Elections
Kenya's opposition political parties finally put their differences behind them in the run-up to the 2002 general elections, fielding one candidate, Mwai KibakiMwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki is the current and third President of the republic of Kenya.Kibaki was previously Vice President of Kenya for ten years from 1978–1988 and also held cabinet ministerial positions, including a widely acclaimed stint as Minister for Finance , Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for...
, for the presidency. Kibaki trounced the KANU candidate, Uhuru Kenyatta
Uhuru Kenyatta
Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta is a Kenyan politician, currently serving as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister for Finance and MP for Gatundu South Constituency. He is the Chairman of Kenya African National Union , the former ruling party, which is currently part of the Party of National Unity...
, and formed a government of national unity. He appointed Ford-Kenya's leader, Michael Wamalwa Vice President
Vice president
A vice president is an officer in government or business who is below a president in rank. The name comes from the Latin vice meaning 'in place of'. In some countries, the vice president is called the deputy president...
, as well as giving a number of cabinet
Cabinet (government)
A Cabinet is a body of high ranking government officials, typically representing the executive branch. It can also sometimes be referred to as the Council of Ministers, an Executive Council, or an Executive Committee.- Overview :...
positions to Ford-Kenya MP's.
Change of leadership
Michael Wamalwa Kijana died in London in August 2003, after a long illness . In the aftermath of the funeral, Ford-Kenya elected Musikari KomboMusikari Kombo
Musikari Nazi Kombo in Bungoma District is a Kenyan politician and currently serves as a nominated Member of Parliament. He joined Misikhu Primary School for his elementary education, then proceeded to Rakwaro Primary School, and finally moving to Mumias where he completed his primary education...
to succeed Wamalwa. Kombo beat another Ford Kenya MP, Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi
Mukhisa Kituyi
Dr. Mukhisa Kituyi is a Kenyan politician and the immediate former Member of Parliament for Kimilili constituency in Bungoma North District of Western Province. He also served as Minister for Trade and Industry.-Education and early career:Dr...
, in the contest.
Ford-Kenya under Musikari Kombo has been a remarkable party. With neither the charisma of Michael Wamalwa nor the crowd-pulling popularity of Raila Odinga, Kombo has struggled to establish the party as an influential component of the ruling coalition. The party has felt shortchanged after the death of Wamalwa: the prized position of Vice President was handed to the LDP's Moody Awori
Moody Awori
Arthur Moody Awori , known as "Uncle Moody", was the 9th Vice President of Kenya from 25 September 2003 to 9 January 2008.-Politics:Awori was born in Butere. He went to Mangu High School in 1935, and later Kakamega High School...
, while a number of other appointments have also gone the way of other parties. Musikari Kombo showed his mantle as the Ford-Kenya Chairman when he led his party MPs in rejecting their appointment to the newly reconstituted cabinet after the constitutional referendum of 2005
Kenyan constitutional referendum, 2005
The 2005 Kenyan constitutional referendum was held on 21 November 2005. The proposed new constitution was voted down by a 58% majority of Kenya's voters...
. This forced President Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki is the current and third President of the republic of Kenya.Kibaki was previously Vice President of Kenya for ten years from 1978–1988 and also held cabinet ministerial positions, including a widely acclaimed stint as Minister for Finance , Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for...
to take Mr. Kombo and Ford-Kenya seriously and increase the number of Ford-Kenya cabinet ministers to 6 from 3 and acquire other senior civil service appointments for its party members.
In March 2007, a breakaway party known as New Ford Kenya was registered . It was formed by cabinet minister Soita Shitanda
Soita Shitanda
Soita Shitanda is a Kenyan politician. He belongs to New Ford Kenya and was elected to represent the Malava Constituency in the National Assembly of Kenya. Soita has represented Malava constituency since 1997, after he ousted the then, Minister of Health, Mr. Joshua Angatia in the general election,...
. Mukhisa Kituyi later joined the party. .
At the Kenyan general election, 2007
Kenyan general election, 2007
Kenyan general election, 2007 was held on 27 December 2007 . It comprised Presidential, parliamentary and civic elections. The previous general election in Kenya was held in 2002.-See also:*Kenyan presidential election, 2007...
, Ford-Kenya aligned with the newly-created Party of National Unity
Party of National Unity (Kenya)
Party of National Unity was founded as a political coalition of parties in Kenya. On September 16, 2007, Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki announced the party formation and said that he would run as its presidential candidate in the December 2007 Kenyan elections...
led by President Mwai Kibaki . It ran, however, its own candidates in a number of places. This time the election results were very poor. With 1/4 of constituencies not yet decided Ford-K managed only to hold to one seat. The party went through numerous court cases trying to get a new leader after Komos leadership period ended, a process which Hon Wetangula take the leadership mandle of the party through a national degates congress elections.