Luke Kapchanga
3 May 2008
Nairobi — Ford Kenya chairman Musikari Kombo is a man under siege.
Mr Kombo, who last year believed he was carrying the destiny of the Luyia community and that of Ford-K supporters countrywide on his back, is facing an acid test as a cross-section of party officials and supporters call for his removal.
The first person to come out openly in calling for Mr Kombo's removal is former Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi, who cited the party's poor showing in the 2007 elections. He said the party has been shrinking and even in Bungoma District, it only has majority support in Kimilili and Bumula constituencies.
He stated that the world over, party leaders "step aside" when they perform dismally for new people to take over.
Mr Wamunyinyi was one of Mr Kombo's closest allies prior to last year's polls. He was one of those who rooted for election of Ford-K chairman unopposed in order to prepare him for the presidency in 2012.
But after kicking off the quit calls at a Press conference in Bungoma Town, Mr Wamunyinyi has been convening meetings with party officials and councillors to scheme for Mr Kombo's ouster.
The strategy, according to the people who have been attending the meetings, is to discredit Kombo's performance and highlight his alleged lack of vision for the party.
The strategy seems to have worked to a certain extent as several party branches across the country have picked up the cue and are demanding Mr Kombo to step aside.
Most vocal
The most vocal were officials from Nyanza and North Rift, two areas which have historical backing for the party.
Leaders of Trans Nzoia, West Pokot, Marakwet, Pokot North and Mt Elgon branches issued a statement in Kitale saying that "it is time for the party to think of its future if it has to remain relevant".
Their disappointment and frustrations, they said, stems from the party's dismal performance in last year's polls.
But the calls have been dismissed by Mr Kombo's supporters as the work of a senior minister from Western Province. The only minister who comes from the province and could have the interest in the party leadership is Foreign Affairs minister Moses Wetangula.
Though Mr Wetangula has never publicly declared interest in the post of chairman, his close associates say he is interested in the presidency in 2012.
During his campaigns last year, he used to hint to his supporters that in the event Mr Kombo was reluctant to contest the presidency in 2012, he will step in.
And if the Foreign minister is to position himself for the Kibaki succession race, the only option in the coalition politics the country is going through currently is through Ford-K flagship.
Some time in March, while attending a burial at Lwandenyi in his Sirisia constituency, Mr Wetangula is said to have blamed Mr Kombo for the party's poor showing in the polls.
Spent force
The minister, who was accompanied by a group of local councillors, described Mr Kombo as a political "spent force".
But when one of Mr Wetangula's closest allies, Mr Allan Chenane, was asked about the minister's position on the calls for Mr Kombo's removal, he maintained that the party was stable.
"The minister has confidence in Mr Kombo's leadership and those making allegations about schemes to have changes in the party want to create tension and unnecessary divisions," Mr Chenane said.
Mr Kombo's troubles came to the fore after the death of Bukusu elder Joseph Khaoya, whose burial was marked with a changed political atmosphere favouring ODM leader Raila Odinga.
Mr Odinga, then prime minister-designate, was received with pomp and song when he arrived for the burial in Kanduyi constituency.
Saboti MP, Eugene Wamalwa stole the show by cautioning party leaders present to read the signs and unite the Luyia community or risk being eclipsed by the younger generation of MPs.
"Young MPs from this community are watching carefully actions by our leaders and we want to move as one people to have our voice heard," he told mourners.
He added that should leaders not heed the advice, come 2012, they will be booted out.
Since then, party supporters at the grassroots started discussing openly about having changes in Ford-K leadership, and went further to propose the younger Wamalwa to take over the chairmanship.
When asked if he has the ambition of heading the party, he said: "The people's power is supreme and being privileged to serve them need to be appreciated at all levels."
As the party lawyer, however, he did not come out clearly if he wants to push the chairman out, insisting that the party constitution has to be defended at all costs.
According to him, the party will have elections in 2010, when it will be prudent for those calling for Mr Kombo's removal put in their choice.
Yet another option to hold elections can be through a resolution by the National Delegates Council (NDC) when demanded by members.
Replacing Mr Kombo may not be easy and his supporters say history is on their side, going by past leadership duels in the party.
Ford-K officials from Trans Nzoia say Mr Kombo has managed party affairs with humility.
In his Webuye backyard, councillors allied to the party are optimistic that he holds the destiny of the Luyia community.
Councillor Eric Soita dismissed those who want changes in the party as "sell-outs and detractors who are after personal benefits from enemies of the party".
Bumula MP and assistant minister Wakoli Bifwoli cautioned those agitating for Mr Kombo's removal to expect a tough fight "which they will lose with disgrace".
He reminded party supporters of former Trade minister Mukhisa Kituyi who fell from grace after trying to undermine Mr Kombo's leadership, adding that those making quit calls will not be spared.
Dr Kituyi, who has kept a low profile since losing his Kimilili seat to a newcomer, was a thorn in the flesh of Mr Kombo's leadership.
There is also talk of a possible merger with New Ford Kenya. If it come to pass, the list of candidates list to replace Mr Kombo as chairman will be long, because Dr Kituyi who is the New Ford-K chairman and Housing minister Soita Shitanda may lay claim to the post.
His undoing
Political observers on the ground say that Mr Kombo's undoing was his over-confidence during the elections. They say he was sure of being appointed the VP if PNU won the polls.
The Ford-K chairman is said to have spent little time in the constituency and changed or disregarded advice from his aides.
They say that his handling of party affairs annoyed even his close friends, whose influence he underestimated, and thinking that his closeness to the President would automatically propel him to Parliament.
The political troubles of Mr Kombo intensified immediately he lost the Webuye seat to his perennial rival, Mr Alfred Wekesa Sambu of ODM in the last general election.
He had held the seat since 1992, when multiparty democracy was introduced by defeating the first area MP Joash Wamangoli, and has been winning subsequent elections with comfortable majority against Mr Sambu and others.
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