The early 1990s marked a high point for opposition politics in Kenya—and nowhere was this felt more deeply than in Western Kenya. FORD-Asili, the party formed after the split in the original Forum for the Restoration of Democracy (FORD), rapidly gained traction among Luhya voters disillusioned by years of KANU repression. But the momentum would be short-lived. The story of FORD-Asili in Western Kenya from 1993 to 1994 is a tale of bold beginnings, high expectations, and rapid collapse.
1992 Triumph: Shikuku and the Asili Surge
In the 1992 general elections, FORD-Asili stunned the nation by securing a substantial number of parliamentary seats, especially in Kakamega and Vihiga counties. The party’s popularity was powered by Martin Shikuku, the “People’s Watchman,” who had become Secretary-General of FORD-Asili after the original FORD split between Oginga Odinga and Kenneth Matiba.
In Kakamega:
- Martin Shikuku returned triumphantly in Butere.
- Benjamin Ashiono won Ikolomani.
- Javan Ommani (not Emuhaya) captured his constituency.
- Other victories across the region demonstrated FORD-Asili’s dominance in the Luhya heartland.
The party’s populist message, grassroots campaigning, and alliance with Matiba gave it wide appeal.
1993–1994: Pressure Mounts from the State
However, by early 1993, the political tide began to shift. President Moi and the ruling KANU party used a combination of coercion, bribery, and administrative manipulation to destabilize FORD-Asili. As Martin Shikuku focused on his national role, local MPs began to defect.
A key tactic was:
- Targeted by-elections: MPs who defected to KANU were automatically granted KANU tickets for ensuing by-elections.
- The state heavily funded these campaigns, ensuring that defectors retained their seats through state-backed machinery.
Between 1993 and 1994, FORD-Asili lost multiple MPs, including those from:
- Ikolomani
- Shinyalu
- Lugari
- Lurambi
Each defection was a blow to party cohesion and a signal of weakening resistance to Moi’s grip.
Shikuku Stands Alone
By mid-1994, Martin Shikuku was the last FORD-Asili MP remaining in Western Kenya. Isolated and increasingly surrounded by defectors now allied to KANU, he described the experience as a “betrayal of the people’s will.”
KANU’s strategy worked not just politically, but psychologically. Many constituents began to associate development projects with KANU allegiance, eroding FORD-Asili’s community support base.
The Khaniri Succession and Growing Dynasties
In 1996, Nicodemus Khaniri, MP for Hamisi under FORD-Asili, died in office. He was succeeded by his son George Khaniri, a move that mirrored other dynastic transitions in the region. But even George Khaniri eventually distanced himself from FORD-Asili as the party’s national presence diminished.
Simultaneously, Matiba’s health and political instability at the top of FORD-Asili added to its downfall. Without a clear leader and under sustained pressure, the party’s hold on Western Kenya rapidly eroded.
Impact on Western Kenya’s Political Map
By the end of 1994, FORD-Asili had been hollowed out in Western Kenya. The region’s politics began to shift toward:
- KANU-controlled loyalty structures
- Emergence of new parties like UDF (later ANC) and a revitalized FORD-Kenya
- Growing fragmentation among Luhya leaders
The fall of FORD-Asili left a leadership void that would only begin to be filled in the late 1990s and early 2000s by figures like Musalia Mudavadi, Cyrus Jirongo, and Michael Wamalwa.
Conclusion
The dramatic rise and fall of FORD-Asili in Western Kenya between 1993 and 1994 reflects the volatile nature of early multiparty democracy in Kenya. From electoral glory to political isolation, the party’s journey revealed both the strength of voter will and the brutality of state tactics under President Moi.
While FORD-Asili’s footprint faded, its legacy remains in the memory of voters who once believed that change was not just possible—but imminent.
