President Uhuru Kenyatta on Wednesday met leaders of the New Ford-Kenya party, barely three days after they announced its dissolution.

The leaders who met President Kenyatta at State House in Nairobi included party leader Ken Lusaka, Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa and former minister Musikari Kombo

The leaders said they had taken the bold move to dissolve their party to unite Kenyans and move the country forward.

President Kenyatta thanked them for the decision to join Jubilee, saying it would pave the way for other political parties to take similar steps.

“I want to assure you that we will also merge our parties. The issues of the law which had delayed us have now been resolved,” said the President.

The President said the move shows Kenyan leaders are keen on forming a party with a national outlook.

“We don’t want to kill the opposition, all we want is for our politics to be issues-based,” said President Kenyatta.

NATIONAL OUTLOOK

President Kenyatta said political parties with a national outlook will enable Kenyans to choose which ones have better programmes and agenda.

“We challenge our colleagues in the opposition to also set up a national party so that we can compete on policies and not on tribal grounds,” the President added.

The President directed that members of the dissolved party be informed of the Jubilee agenda.

“The Jubilee agenda is their agenda and they should be able to discuss it with their supporters and answer any questions which may be asked,” said President Kenyatta.

Mr Lusaka, who is also the Bungoma governor, said the decision to fold the party was unanimous.

He said party members are happy to join Jubilee and be part of the government that is transforming Kenya.

Mr Kombo, who is also the chairman of the Water Services Trust Fund, said the party has led the way by taking a bold step.

“We look forward to seeing other parties take the merger decision,” he said.

Former Cabinet minister Fred Gumo commended the New Ford-Kenya leadership for taking the bold step, saying politics involves making such decisions.

“It is always good and beneficial in politics to take the first step. Those who take things for granted live to regret [it],” said Mr. Gumo.

Also present were Agriculture Development Cooperation chairman Wakoli Bifwoli and MPs Reginalda Wanyonyi, Bonface Otsiula, Daniel Wanyama, Janet Nangabo, Kennedy Wamang’oli and David Were. (Source: Nation Media Group).