The once strong political steam engine called Ford Kenya under the leadership of Bungoma senator Moses Wetangula seems to have been reduced to a pale, shaky and unappealing community-based political outfit.
Gone are the days when the doyens like Masinde Muliro and Wamalwa Kijana stood up to the opponents and marketed Ford Kenya beyond the larger Western region, accommodating fresh and brilliant minds to the party.
According to residents of Bungoma, the party now has old men and women who have ensured that no young vibrant leaders will access the party leader.
They have turned Ford Kenya into an outfit that admits members by the virtue of being old and partially senile.
"It's a sad fact to note that some of the old guards within the party structures have oftentimes sought the help of witchcraft to prevent progressive kind of advisories from the young and gifted aspiring leaders. What baffles many is the fact that the party leader who seems educated and brilliant still falls prey to the charms of ill-meaning kukas (old people) inhabiting the party symbolising doom and gloom, " said Peter Waswa, a resident of Bungoma town.
There are further complaints that the party officials have metamorphosed into wallet hawks who target the pockets of aspirants and silence upcoming aspirants by the daily financial demands, selling tickets to unpopular candidates and missing grassroots support and people's confidence.
"On 23rd this Friday the aspirants and elected leaders are meeting at KMTI at a cost of Sh100 000 (Elected Deputy Governor ) Sh20 000 (Women-Rep and MP aspirants) as party support fees. It's a sad story because apparently aspiring MCAS are not invited," he said.
It is indeed a sorry state for the Senator who has been dragged to a vantage point to see how his own political horse is throwing the last kicks and he's happy watching and thinking that the horse is flaunting new antics for the race.