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Trouble and cracks are brewing between two opposition coalition National Super Alliance affiliate parties, Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Party and Moses Wetangula’s Ford Kenya over the control of Bungoma county politics.
Wetang'ula, Raila, Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper), Musalia Mudavadi (ANC) and Isaac Rutto (CCM) teamed up to form a formidable National Super Alliance in bid to send home president Uhuru Kenyatta in August polls.
But it has now emerging that the unity of the coalition hangs in the balance after the two parties are locked in a controversy over who should control Bungoma politics between the Orange party and Ford Kenya.
Both parties have claimed dominance of the region, but Ford Kenya wants ODM to compel its candidates in the region to back down, insisting that the county is purely its zone, but ODM does not seem to want to cede.
"We made sacrifices as a party and our leader stepped down for Raila's presidential bid. What is so difficult in them sacrificing Bungoma seats for us?" Kanduyi MP, Wafula Wamunyinyi asked in an address to the press in Bungoma town.
"We are going to make a major statement...ODM aspirants should step down," he said, adding they will declare the county a Ford Kenya zone.
"Let's face the reality that unless we create order, we will lose many seats to Jubilee," Wafula Wakoli, the Ford Kenya Youth league leader said.
But in a quick rejoinder, ODM Bungoma county secretary Majimbo Okumu laughed off Ford Kenya’s demands saying that they were far-fetched.
"This man, together with his party leader, must be out of their minds. We have invested as candidates...how do we step down?" Majimbo asked.
"If the party is popular in Bungoma, why panic? They know pretty well that they have been riding on our backs," he added.