Party linked to Defence CS Wamalwa to be launched at Bomas
Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa. A party associated with him the Democratic Alliance Party-Kenya (DAP-K), will be launched at the Bomas of Kenya on December 14, 2021.
At least two Ford Kenya MPs and a host of officials and members of the party are Tuesday expected to defect to the Democratic Alliance Party-Kenya (DAP-K), which is associated with Defence Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa.
Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi and his Tongaren counterpart Eseli Simiyu, who have been leading a Ford Kenya party splinter group following their falling-out with Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula’s camp, are expected to attend the DAP-K National Delegates Convention (NDC) at the Bomas of Kenya where they are expected to formally join the new outfit.
The two legislators have been leaning towards ODM leader Raila Odinga, who is expected to grace the ceremony at Bomas.
Mr Wamunyinyi had last Week hinted at plans to join a new party with which they would join Mr Odinga’s Azimio la Umoja Movement which was launched last Friday.
“We have been with Raila but now I want us to be even closer because he is most qualified to lead this country,” Mr Wamunyinyi said at the Convent Hotel in Nairobi last Week where Mr Odinga was meeting Jubilee and ODM party officials from Nairobi.
The same day, Mr Odinga also met Mr Wamalwa, at Chungwa House where they agreed that the Defence CS would attend last Friday’s Azimio ya Umoja convention in Kasarani.
On Monday, Dr Simiyu told the Nation that they will officially announce their 2022 political vehicle at Tuesday’s DAP-K meeting.
Preside over official launch
“When we were leaving Ford Kenya we said we would announce our next move on December 14. Let’s wait for the day tomorrow,” Dr Simiyu told the Nation.
Mr Wamalwa, Mr Wamunyinyi and Dr Simiyu had on May 22, 2020 met Mr Odinga, a few days before the Ford Kenya “coup” happened.
The trio will Tuesday preside over the official launch of DAP-K at the Bomas of Kenya, where the party will also hold its first NDC.
When contacted by the Nation, Mr Wamalwa did not confirm or deny his association with the new party, although his close aide, Mr Kizito Temba, confirmed that the CS will host Mr Odinga as the chief guest at the party’s NDC.
“There is no cause for alarm for the CS to be associated with this party because the Leadership and Integrity Act exempts CSs from the requirement for state officers to uphold political neutrality,” Mr Kizito said.
