A clash is looming between Ford People and the Party of National Unity (PNU) ahead of the impending by-election in South Mugirango.

Ford People sees the poll as a chance to regain some foothold on Gusii politics after it was vanquished by the Orange Democratic Movement during the last General Election.

Ford People officials interviewed said the party would field its own candidate in the by-election, even if that means straining its relationship with its PNU ally.

“We are going to field our candidate. We have decided to field the petitioner in the by-election,” said Ford People secretary-general Henry Obwocha in reference to Manson Nyamweya, who successfully filed a petition challenging the election of former MP Omingo Magara.

The decision by the Simeon Nyachae-led party to field Mr Nyamweya on a Ford People ticket has rekindled the internal differences between the various parties under the PNU coalition.

A top PNU coalition official, Mr George Nyamweya, last week accused the Ford People leadership of lacking commitment to the ideals of the coalition.

“We are not blocking any party from going it alone, but I want to remind those who wish to do so that they are better off working together than sticking to their small ethnic enclaves,” said the nominated MP.

Kisii High Court Judge Daniel Musinga nullified Magara’s election last month, citing irregularities during the process of voting and vote-counting.

National Assembly Speaker Kenneth Marende has since declared the seat vacant despite Mr Magara’s camp, through Nairobi lawyer Katwa Kigen, lodging an appeal against the ruling.

Sources within Ford People said the party had opted to go it alone in South Mugirango because it thinks that it stands a strong chance of clinching the seat through Mr Nyamweya.

Unlike the Bomachoge by-election, the forthcoming by-election gives the Nyachae party a perfect chance to avenge the humiliating defeat it suffered in 2007 and which it squarely blames on Mr Magara for ditching Ford People and having led the ODM wave in the area.

Besides Mr Nyamweya’s grassroots appeal, Ford People is also banking on a possible fallout within ODM during the by-election.

A section of ODM MPs led by Tourism minister Najib Balala and Cherangany MP Joshua Kutuny have called on the party to give Mr Magara direct nomination because he is the national treasurer.

But the Director of Elections, Mr Philip Okundi, has maintained that the former MP would face his opponents in the primaries in line with the party’s constitution.

Mr Magara faces a stiff challenge from former high school principal, Mr Ibrahim Ochoi, in the primaries.

Speaking to the Sunday Nation, Mr Kutuny said that “like-minded” MPs who had fallen out with Prime Minister Raila Odinga would go to South Mugirango to campaign for Mr Magara.

“We will all camp in South Mugirango to ensure Magara wins,” he said.

A Kisii ODM politician who requested anonymity for fear of antagonising his party said Mr Nyamweya may pose a serious challenge to the Orange party.

“He (Nyamweya) is very experienced. He has also gained a lot of support after the petition sailed through. We in ODM are aware of the threat he poses but we’ll do all we can to retain the seat,” he added.

Ford People accuses the PNU coalition of “grabbing” its candidate during the Bomachoge by-election last year leading to the loss of its seat in Parliament.

Former assistant minister Joel Onyancha, who was elected on a Ford People ticket, had his election nullified following a successful petition.

Come the by-election and Mr Onyancha abandoned Ford People and instead sought to defend his seat on a PNU ticket, only to lose to ODM’s Simon Ogari.

Ford People’s argument is that Mr Onyancha would have easily retained his seat if he had not ditched the Nyachae-led party.

“Onyancha was a very popular candidate, that is why he was the only Ford People MP who survived the ODM onslaught in the area. He was just a victim of PNU’s unpopularity in the greater Gusii,” said a former MP allied to Mr Nyachae who requested not to be named.

Mr Obwocha, a former Cabinet minister, said Ford People had resolved to go it alone because of “PNU’s blind ambition” which had seen it lose in Bomachoge.

But Nyamweya of PNU dismissed Mr Obwocha’s accusation, saying it is Ford People and other coalition partners such as Narc Kenya and Safina that split Mr Onyancha’s vote, handing victory to Mr Ogari of ODM.

He said PNU coalition was ready to conduct a joint nomination for its affiliates to get one candidate for in South Mugirango be supported by all the parties.