The race to replace outgoing Ford Kenya Secretary General Chris Wamalwa has gathered pace with the party’s leadership expressing divergent views over the suitable candidate to occupy the position.

The former Kiminini member of parliament resigned as secretary general after his appointment as Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) in the Ministry of Water, Sanitation and Irrigation.

In the latest test that could threaten unity in Ford Kenya, party officials in Trans Nzoia and Bungoma counties are divided on who between MPs Ferdinand Wanyonyi (Kwanza) and John Murumba Chikati (Tongaren) is the best bet to succeed Wamalwa.

A group from Trans Nzoia led by National Vice Treasurer Margaret Wanjala is rooting for Chikati to take over the Ford Kenya mantle.

However, another faction insists that Wanyonyi deserves the post because he has been a loyal member of the party associated with National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula since 1992.

“The next secretary-general should be a person who can be trusted, someone who has never been in any party other than Ford Kenya. We present to you Hon. Ferdinand Wanyonyi as our next secretary general,” the group said in a statement.

The latest comes just days after Ford Kenya National youth league unanimously endorsed Chikati for the position of secretary general.

Addressing the press at the party’s Simba House headquarters in Nairobi last Thursday, national president Chekai Musa and the party youth national league SG Victor Kirui said Chikati was best suited to replace Wamalwa owing to his vast experience in matters politics, leadership and loyalty to the party.