There was confusion at the Kenya Kwanza camp after outgoing Senate Speaker, Kenneth Lusaka, failed to show up for a crucial unveiling ceremony that was held in his honour.
The ceremony was attended by senior leaders of Ford Kenya party led by Moses Wetangula at Deputy President William Ruto's Karen residence.
Speaker Lusaka was set to be unveiled as the Bungoma gubernatorial hopeful under the Kenya Kwanza coalition but he was a no show at the event.
According to reports by The Nation, calls to Speaker Lusaka went unanswered. The Nation's report further indicated that senior members of DP Ruto's team also made various calls to the Speaker but he did not respond to any of them.
Wetangula had rallied Ford Kenya party leaders, including Kabuchai MP Majimbo Kalasinga and Bungoma Woman Rep, Catherine Wambilianga, to report at DP Ruto's home by 8am on Wednesday, April 6, for the occasion.
After Lusaka failed to show up, Wetangula joined the Deputy President in the unveiling Samburu governor, Moses Kasaine Lenolkulal, as the new member of the United Democratic Alliance’s (UDA) presidential campaign team.
Later, Lusaka explained his absence from the event stating that he was not required to be at the DP's residence physically. He further clarified that he was not available due to other official engagements.
It was later determined that Speaker Lusaka was chairing the International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR).
But The Nation reported that the Speaker had been cautioned against associating publicly with Ruto's faction. In February, Lusaka denied claims that he had ditched Jubilee Party.
Speaking in an interview with The Standard, the Speaker refuted reports in the media on joining forces with Wetangula, maintaining that he only held a consultative meeting with the Ford-Kenya Party leader.
“I’m surprised that some of his (Wetangula’s) people are now going around claiming I have ditched Jubilee for Ford-Kenya. The deadline for declaring party membership is March 26. I will announce my decision on, or before then,” Lusaka stated.
Political pundits have opined that Bungoma gubernatorial race will be hotly contested after Wetangula vowed to teach Governor Wycliffe Wangamati a lesson and openly pledged to support Lusaka for the county’s top job.
