Makali shopping for a party after being pushed out of LPK

David Makali, the journalist-turned-politician, has resigned from the Labour Party of Kenya as the secretary-general, leaving him partyless even as the clock ticks towards elections.

In a letter dated March 20, 2017 addressed to the party’s chairperson Julia Ojiambo and copied to the Registrar of Political Parties, Mr Makali resigned both as the secretary-general and a member of the party.

Mr Makali fell out with party leader Ababu Namwamba over which coalition, between the National Super Alliance (NASA) and the Jubilee Party LPK should support. While Namwamba chose to support Jubilee, Mr Makali was drumming up support for the opposition.

“I am resigning today as the LPK secretary-general so that I can focus on my Bungoma senatorial bid. “I can’t remain in the party whose leader cannot listen and respect other leaders’ views,” said Mr Makali.

Mr Makali is among journalists who have decided to go for elective positions. The others include David Ohito of Standard, George Munji, Kendagor Obadia formerly of Citizen TV, among others. They journalists are soon realizing that politics, unlike the newsroom, has no rules and principles keep shifting.

Mr Makali said he will soon announce the party he will use to contest for the seat. Mr Makali will fight it out with Jubilee’s Dr Juma Mukhwana and former Tourism Chief Officer Juma Fwamba who will both square it out at the nomination stage.

Stranger in the party

Makali has been battling with LPK Leader and Bundalagi MP Ababu Namwamba over suspicious deals that led the legislator being expelled from the party. Namwamba initiated a move that saw Makali kicked out of the party over links with Opposition leader Raila Odinga. He reportedly told the party’s NEC meeting that he has had several meetings with Raila who indicated his willingness to work with LPK.

And on March 4, Mr Makali said Namwamba was a stranger to the party and only wanted to use it to make quick cash. The Political Parties Tribunal barred Namwamba from conducting activities for Labour Party of Kenya, which he relaunched last September.

Mr Makali is best known for his activities at the Media Institute, an NGO that covered media issues and advocated for media rights. He later on worked for Standard as Managing Editor for Sunday edition before going into private practice. He then started co-hosting the Cheche morning show on Citizen before joining IEBC as communication consultant.

[crp]