Forum for the Restoration of Democracy – Kenya
This article is missing information about the party's ideology.(April 2015) |
Forum for the Restoration of Democracy–Kenya | ||
---|---|---|
Senate 1 / 67 | ||
Governors | 1 / 47 | |
Website | ||
www | ||
Forum for the Restoration of Democracy–Kenya (FORD–Kenya) is a Kenyan political party. The party has sat in the government of Kenya once, under the National Rainbow Coalition, from 2003 to 2007, having ended forty years of one party (Kenya African National Union) rule. In April 2022, the party joined the Kenya Kwanza coalition for the August 2022 elections,[2][3] and is headed by Moses Wetangula, the current speaker of the National Assembly of Kenya. The party tends to be more popular among the Luhya people.[4]
History
The history of FORD–Kenya is essentially the history of
In August 1992, due to an internal power struggle over the leadership of FORD, the party split into two factions:
Odinga died in January 1994 and was succeeded as chairman of FORD–Kenya by
General elections
2002 General 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 Kibaki, for the presidency. Kibaki defeated the KANU candidate, Uhuru Kenyatta, and formed a government of national unity. He appointed FORD–Kenya's leader, Michael Wamalwa, to be vice president and gave a number of cabinet positions to FORD–Kenya MPs.
In December 2012 it was one of four parties to enter into Coalition for Reforms and Democracy, alongside Raila Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement and Kalonzo Musyoka's Wiper Democratic Movement – Kenya.[6] In 2013, CORD coalition emerged second in the presidential elections and therefore, formed the opposition. FORD–Kenya party leader Hon. Moses Wetangula, who was one of the CORD co-principals, was elected the Senate Minority Leader. He will hold the position until 20th March 2018 when he was replaced by Siaya Senator Hon. James Orengo.The Bungoma High Court nullified his election on 30 September 2013 and the Speaker of the Senate declared the seat vacant on 16 October 2013. In a by-election held on 19 December 2013, FORD–Kenya candidate Moses Wetangula recaptured his Bungoma senatorial seat with a landslide win after garnering 149,458 votes against his main contender Musikari Kombo, who got about a half of the votes.
In 2017, FORD–Kenya party joined other parties to form the NASA coalition. Musalia Mudavadi, Moses Wetangula, Kalonzo Musyoka, Charity Ngilu, Isaac Ruto and Raila Odinga became principals of the coalition.
The NASA coalition fielded ODM's Raila Odinga as its presidential candidate with Wiper's Kalonzo Musyoka deputising him. FORD–Kenya party leader Moses Wetangula was promised the Deputy Prime Cabinet Secretary slot in the event of the coalition's victory. NASA went on to finish second in the election that was nullified eventually by the Supreme Court of Kenya. It boycotted the subsequent election.
Once again, FORD–Kenya party leader was given the minority leader slot in the Senate of Kenya, a position he held for just 6 months before he was replaced by Hon. James Orengo.
In 2022, FORD–Kenya, UDA and ANC parties formed a Kenya Kwanza coalition. FORD–Kenya party leader Hon. Moses Wetangula became one of the co-principals of the coalition. Kenya Kwanza coalition went on to win the presidential race, in the victory that was challenged by the opposition unsuccessfully at the Supreme Court of Kenya. The coalition formed government with FORD–Kenya producing the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Dr. Susan Nakhumicha Wafula, in the cabinet.
FORD–Kenya's party leader Hon. Moses Wetangula resigned as the Bungoma senator and was elected the speaker of the National Assembly. Other FORD–Kenya members were appointed in several government positions, notably; PS Dr. Juma Mukhwana, CAS Hon. Vincent Kemosi, CAS Hon. Sudi Wandabusi, CAS Hon. Chris Wamalwa, Director Dr. Joseph Wafula Dabodabo, Director Millicent Abudho, Director Elizabeth Iminza, Director Ruth Wanyonyi and many others.FORD Kenya party fielded a candidate in the Bungoma Senatorial by-election afterwards. The candidate, Hon. Wafula Wakoli, won against the UDA candidate with a landslide, becoming the second senator of Bungoma since the inception of devolution.
On 15th of March, 2023, FORD–Kenya top management organs, the Management Committee/NEC/PG held a special meeting at Maanzoni Lodge in Machakos to fill in vacant positions that had been left vacant due to numerous government appointments. The Secretary General position was up for grab and several party members showed interests of vying but only two applied, Hon. John Murumba Chikati and Wafula Omar Mutacho.
Following exhausting deliberations at the Management Committee, Hon. Dr. John Murumba Chikati was endorsed, unanimously as the Secretary General of the FORD Kenya party. He took over from Dr. Chris Wamalwa Wakhungu who resigned to join the civil service. Other leaders were elected including the Bungoma Governor H.E Kenneth Makelo Lusaka as the 1st Deputy Party Leader. NEC ratified the decision.
Change of leadership
Michael Wamalwa Kijana died in London on 23 August 2003 after a long illness.
In March 2007, a breakaway party known as
In 2020, a faction led by the Secretary General Dr. Eseli Simiyu attempted to change the leadership of the party by calling a special NEC meeting at Radisson Blu Hotel in Nairobi. They installed Wafula Wamunyinyi as the party leader but the Political Party Disputes Resolution Tribunal quashed the changes. The party's Deputy Secretary General Millicent Abudho immediately called for a Management Committee Meeting which suspended Dr. Eseli Simiyu as the SG of the party and installed her in an acting capacity. The matter went to court. In 2021, the party held the NDC and elected new leadership, with Dr. Chris Wamalwa getting elected as the Secretary General. Moses Wetangula was reelected as the party leader unopposed. In April 2023, the party elected Dr. John Chikati as its Secretary General following the appointment of his predecessor as the Chief Administrative Secretary.[11]
Governing body
As gazetted on 30th of November 2021, the Registrar of Political Parties in Kenya gave notice that FORD–Kenya made changes to its governing body.[12]
Designation | Current Official |
Party Leader | Moses M. Wetangula |
1st Deputy Party Leader | Kenneth Makelo Lusaka |
2nd Deputy Party Leader | Millicent Abudho |
2nd Deputy Party Leader | Ferdinand Wanyonyi |
National Chairperson | Joel Amuma Ruhu |
1st Vice-Chairperson | Margaret Sabina Wanjala |
2nd Vice-Chairperson | Henry ole Ndiema |
Secretary-General | John Chikati |
1st Deputy Secretary-General | Elizabeth Iminza |
2nd Deputy Secretary-General | Yassir Bajaber Sheikh |
National Treasurer | Nasri Ibrahim Salal |
1st Deputy National Treasurer | Joyce Cheruto |
2nd Deputy National Treasurer | John Kennedy Wanyama |
National Organizing Secretary | Chris Mandu Mandu |
1st Deputy Organizing Secretary | |
2nd Deputy Organizing Secretary | David Burare |
Director of Elections | Khadija Mustafa |
1st Deputy Director of Elections | Emmanuel Osore |
2nd Deputy Director of Elections | Christine Nzuki |
Secretary for Labour, Administration and Public Services | Ann Walubengo |
Deputy Secretary for Labour, Administration and Public Services | Wilbroda Shinanda |
Secretary for Education | Catherine Wambiliyanga |
Deputy Secretary for Education | Eng. James Ratemo |
Secretary for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries | George Kopala |
Deputy Secretary for Agriculture, Livestock and Fisheries | John Hereng |
Secretary for Health Services | Kibunguch Enock (Dr.) |
Deputy Secretary for Health Services | Abigael N. Matini |
Secretary for Finance and Economic Services | Cleophus Ngeti |
Deputy Secretary for Finance and Economic Services | Tondoo Chrispus |
Secretary for Water, Environment and Natural Resources | Jane Nampaso |
Deputy Secretary for Water, Environment and Natural Resources | Lucy Nagholo |
Secretary for Trade, Tourism, Co-operatives and Enterprise Development | Bernard Baraza |
Deputy Secretary for Trade, Tourism, Cooperatives and Enterprise Development | Hadad Fesal Almas |
Secretary for Lands and Infrastructural Development | James Arimonyang |
Deputy Secretary for Lands and Infrastructural Development | Bishop James Muiru Karemi |
Secretary for Constitutional and Legal Affairs | John Makali |
1st Deputy Secretary for Constitutional And Legal Affairs | Reuben Miida Riech |
2nd Secretary for Constitutional and Legal Affairs | Linda Mukhanya |
Secretary for Gender, Youth Affairs and Sports | Luke Opwora |
Deputy Secretary for Gender, Youth Affairs and Sports | Kamila Mathew Salat |
Secretary for Information, Communication, Technology and Research Development | Ismael Arare |
Deputy Secretary for Information, Communication, Technology and Research Development | Roselida Adambi |
Secretary for Devolution and County Co-ordination | Zaddock Mbeya |
Deputy Secretary for Devolution and County Co-ordination | Major (Rtd) Mutacho Omar |
Parliamentary Chief Whip | Wafula Wakoli |
Professionals League Chairperson | Benson W. Milimo |
Women League President | Pauline Nakila |
Youth League President | Moses Wafula Chekai |
Seniors League Chairperson | Gitu Wa Kahengeri |
Persons with Disabilities League Chairperson | Pepela Wanyonyi |
References
- ^ "Our History | Ford-Kenya". Archived from the original on 2017-04-11. Retrieved 2017-04-29.
- ^ "LIVE: Kenya Kwanza coalition agreement signing". YouTube.
- ^ Wanyoike, William (2022-02-21). "Political parties supporting Ruto for presidency". The Star. Retrieved 2022-08-29.
- ^ Hamasi, Linnet (2022-08-05). "Political Parties, Democracy, and the 2022 Kenyan Elections". Kujenga Amani. Retrieved 2024-02-12.
- ^ "Authoritarian leaders and multiparty elections in Africa: how foreign donors help to keep Kenya's Daniel arap Moi in power", authored by Stephen Brown, Third World Quarterly, vol. 22, no. 5, page 728, 2001
- ^ "Raila, Kalonzo seal deal as Mudavadi joins Uhuru, RutoRaila, Kalonzo seal deal as Mudavadi joins Uhuru, Ruto", Standard Digital, reported by Geoffrey Mosoku and Moses Njagih, 5 December 2012
- ^ "Obituary: Michael Wamalwa". the Guardian. 2003-10-14. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ^ "New Ford-Kenya party registered", The Standard, 8 March 2007[permanent dead link]
- ^ "Ford-Kenya to oppose Kituyi, says Kombo", The Standard, 21 November 2007
- ^ "Kenya president eyes re-election". 2007-09-16. Retrieved 2021-08-24.
- ^ Otieno, Julius. "Tongaren MP John Chikati replaces CAS Wamalwa as Ford Kenya SG". The Star. Retrieved 2023-05-03.
- ^ "GAZETTE NOTICE NO. 12993" (PDF). The Kenya Gazette. CXXIII—No. 244 (Special): 2. 2021-11-30 – via The Republic of Kenya.