Nothing will stop Ford-Kenya, Amani merger, says ANC official

Ford-Kenya leader Moses Wetang’ula and Amani National Congress counterpart Musalia Mudavadi address the press at a past event. They two parties are talking about a merger. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • There have been reports that the merger had failed to take off owing to mistrust between the two party leaders and their allies.

  • Mr Musalia Mudavadi and Mr Moses Wetang’ula, have established a joint technical committee mandated to explore the possibilities of the merger.

Amani National Congress has said plans to merge with Ford-Kenya are on course.

The party dismissed reports the planned merger had stalled due to  resistance from some members.

In a statement, acting party secretary-general Barrack Muluka said the two parties “are very happy with the proposed merger and there is no contestation on who will lead the new outfit or will be the flagbearer in 2022”.

“For avoidance of doubt, the merger is on course. Nothing is going to stop it, least of all panicky political outsiders and their sponsored surrogates in whatever guise,” said Mr Muluka.

MISTRUST

There have been reports that the merger had failed to take off owing to mistrust between the two party leaders and their allies.

Sources also claim they are yet to agree on who will lead the new outfit ahead of the 2022 elections.

The two leaders, Mr Musalia Mudavadi and Mr Moses Wetang’ula, have established a joint technical committee mandated to explore the possibilities of the merger.

The team came up with a report, which was submitted to the leaders but when the top organs of the two parties convened separately in Kisumu and Nakuru, they failed to adopt it.

PROPAGANDA

However, Mr Muluka dismissed the claims, saying they were “propaganda spewed by external adversaries who are afraid of the merger”.

“Our two principals are in regular contact. They are the ones who commissioned the technical team and they are very happy with the merger this far,” he said.

He insisted said last week’s deliberations of ANC top organ were healthy and cordial. “It matters in the least that there may have been an isolated discordant voice,” he said.