Attempts by Deputy President William Ruto to make inroads in the vote-rich Western region seem to be hitting a snag after NASA-affiliate party Ford Kenya said it is not prepared to enter into any coalition arrangement with the DP.
The party, through Tongaren MP Dr Eseli Simiyu says pronouncements by former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale that the opposition party may partner with the DP ahead of 2022 are false.
Simiyu cautions that Ford Kenya may take disciplinary action against Khalwale.
"Khalwale is acting desperate because of his politics of the stomach to entertain his masters," Dr Eseli said as quoted by a statement posted on the party's official Facebook page.
"Since when can an individual have a Memorandum of Understanding with a political party? We dare him to produce evidence," he went on.
Khalwale has been vocal in his recent meetings calling on Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetangula and his Amani National Congress counterpart Musalia Mudavadi to merge their respective parties and work with Ruto ahead of the 2022 general election.
The former Ikolomani MP is categorical that the best person members of the Luhya community can work with as 2022 approaches is Ruto because he is a "neighbour."
"The Secretary-General affirmed the party's position to take disciplinary action against the errant deputy party leader (Khalwale)," the Ford Kenya party statement further stated.
Khalwale contested for the Kakamega Gubernatorial seat on a Ford Kenya party ticket during the August 2017 general election but lost to incumbent Wycliffe Oparanya.
Ruto, his close associate, has been keen on bagging the Luhya vote as he has been touring Western region launching development projects and holding fundraisers.