Three of those seeking the seat through the Ford Kenya party ticket include Sirisia politician Moses Nandalwe, Moses Wetang’ula’s long-serving personal assistant Wafula Wakoli and former KICC director Fred Simiyu even as woes deepen in the Kenya Kwanza coalition between Ford Kenya and UDA political parties
By Brown Wafula
The Bungoma County Senatorial seat has attracted many aspirants seeking to replace Moses Wetangula. The seat fell vacant after Mr Wetangula resigned to vie as Speaker of the National Assembly. Three of those seeking the seat through the Ford Kenya party ticket include Sirisia politician Moses Nandalwe, Moses Wetang’ula’s long-serving personal assistant Wafula Wakoli and former KICC director Fred Simiyu even as woes deepen in the Kenya Kwanza coalition between Ford Kenya and UDA political parties.
Supporters of the two parties have vowed to field their candidates for the seat. The three men mentioned are all seeking the Ford Kenya party ticket as a vehicle to use in the forthcoming by-election, IEBC has not officially declared the date the by-election will be held. The UDA party has settled on former Bumula MP Mwambu Mabonga as their favourite to replace Mr Wetang’ula. Former managing director of Kenyatta International Convention Center (KICC) Fred Simiyu is the recent entrant in the race; Mr Simiyu hails from Kabuchai Constituency, Bungoma Central.
In an interview with The Weekly Vision in Bungoma town last Friday, Mr Simiyu called on Bungoma voters to consider voting for him as Senator arguing that he has enough experience and clean integrity to run for public office, he promised to take Bungoma to the next level if elected.
“If there is a person that has supported Kabuchai people, I am the one, I went to the extent of using my salary to buy food and pay fees for the less fortunate families in the constituency,” he said
“I am the best person to replace Moses Wetangula, Mr Wetang’ula is my constituency mate and it will be wise if he backs me to succeed him,” Mr Simiyu pleaded. However, he said that before he relocated to Nairobi, he spent most of his time helping the needy and supporting the widows in the community at home in Kabuchai.
“If there is a person that has supported Kabuchai people, I am the one, I went to the extent of using my salary to buy food and pay fees for the less fortunate families in the constituency,” he said. Mr Simiyu affirmed that if elected the next Senator he will play his oversight role and ensure that the resources channelled to counties from the National Treasury are spent well and that people enjoy the fruits of devolution.“Devolution came to benefit all people in the 47 devolved units, if allowed to be your Senator I will perform as per my agenda,” he said. He attributed the poor economy prevalent in Western Kenya to the collapse of the two sugar milling factories of Nzoia and Mumia’s saying that he will find channels with donors to help revive the companies.
“Let’s avoid electing people who come with many stories without an agenda, mine is just short and straight, I will work,” he noted. He noted that while working at the KICC as the MD he established a friendship with many people who can help him change Bungoma.
