Sibling Rivalry Rocks Kenya Kwanza as UDA, Ford Kenya Lock Horns

By Isabella Maua

With IEBC set to shut the aspirants’ clearance process on Tuesday 7^th June, the process in Mt.Elgon has so far been successful with no major hitches.

Speaking after his verification and clearance, Chepyuk ward MCA incumbent, Franklin Simotwo, said that he is set to launch his campaign immediately assuring his area residents that he will complete the prioritize water and infrastructural projects he had started during his past tenure.

While addressing media during the event, Hon.Evans Chemwotei, a Member of the National Assembly aspirant under Ford Kenya commended IEBC for clearing their candidate in a record 15 minutes and warranted voters peaceful campaigns.

However, he cautioned other party aspirants within the Kenya Kwanza coalition not to despise them because of their polite nature or else the sleeping lion will let loose it’s claws.

“We cannot allow other politicians to belittle us by pointing fingers at us while we are quiet, we are now meeting with our opponent’s head on and it is a bare knuckle affair,” Evans noted adding that there are some UDA members who hide in Kenya Kwanza during the day and sleep with Azimio partners at night.

“Kapondi should make public his stand and let us know if he supports Ruto or Raila, there’s no neutrality here; you’either with us or not with us,” Evans emphasized.

In an exclusive interview with the Times Newspaper, the incumbent Fred Chesebe Kapondi replied to the allegations warning Ford Kenya’s Evans to keep off his private life.

“Evans should be ashamed of himself and stop meddling in my private life and differentiate between private and public affairs,” Kapondi forewarned.

He also cited a major rift between UDA and Ford Kenya not only in Mt.Elgon but in Bungoma County at large.

“It is not a secret that the merging of Ford Kenya and UDA is a marriage of convenience and self-interest in the part of Wetangula,”Kapondi revealed.

He also rubbished off sentiments that he’s not loyal to his party leader, Deputy President Wiliam Ruto challenging Evans to come clean as to why he did not vie under UDA flagship as a sign of loyalty to Ruto.

“If indeed Evans is a staunch supporter of Ruto it’s then very illogical that he chose Wetangula over him and still brags to be his very close ally,” the legislator remarked.

Evans on the other hand announced that they will be holding a major Kenya Kwanza presidential campaign in Kipsigon on Tuesday in support of Deputy President.

Kapondi disregarded the announcement terming it as a disguised Ford Kenya rally which he will not be partisan.