Forum for the Restoration of Democracy-Asili
Encyclopedia
The Forum for the Restoration of Democracy–Asili is a political party
in Kenya
. It is commonly known as FORD-Asili. Asili means 'original' in Swahili
FORD-Asili has its origins in the original Forum for the Restoration of Democracy
. In August 1992 the original FORD (Forum for the Restoration of Democracy
) split into two factions.
The Odinga
-Kijana faction remained in the original Nairobi party headquarters at Agip House on Haile Selassie Avenue whilst the Matiba
-Shikuku faction moved to Muthithi House on Muthithi Road in Westlands
. Thus for a period prior to registration as independent parties the two factions were known as FORD-Agip and FORD-Muthithi.
FORD-Agip was registered as FORD-Kenya whilst FORD-Muthithi was registered as FORD-Asili. Both parties went on to field competitive presidential candidates in the December 1992 elections.
FORD-Asili's candidate Kenneth Matiba
polled second to KANU
's Daniel Toroitich arap Moi in 1992 and won 31 parliamentary seats , dominating Muranga District in Central Province and garnering a credible portion of the votes in Eastern and Western Provinces.
By 1997 Kenneth Matiba
and Martin Shikuku disagreed on a number of matters resulting in Matiba's departure from the party, his destruction of his voter's card and refusal to stand in the 1997 Presidential Elections. Martin Shikuku therefore won the party presidential nomination and went on to win only 0.6% of the Presidential Vote with the party winning 1 National Assembly seat.
In the 2002 election, Ford-Asili won 2 out of 212 elected seats and did not field a presidential candidate, supporting the successful NARC alliance candidate Mwai Kibaki
.
In 2007
, Ford-Asili supported Mwai Kibaki
again as presidential candidate this time under the Party of National Unity
banner and won a single parliamentary seat in its own right (Kirinyaga Central - John Kariuki). In the same election the party's original presidential candidate Kenneth Matiba
re-registered as a voter and stood under the Saba Saba-Asili banner (Saba Saba referring to 7 July 1990: the date of riots in Kenya to demand the return of multipartyism). Matiba came 7th with only 0.081% of the vote.
Elections in Kenya
Political party
A political party is a political organization that typically seeks to influence government policy, usually by nominating their own candidates and trying to seat them in political office. Parties participate in electoral campaigns, educational outreach or protest actions...
in Kenya
Kenya
Kenya , officially known as the Republic of Kenya, is a country in East Africa that lies on the equator, with the Indian Ocean to its south-east...
. It is commonly known as FORD-Asili. Asili means 'original' in Swahili
FORD-Asili has its origins in the original Forum for the Restoration of Democracy
Forum for the Restoration of Democracy
Forum for the Restoration of Democracy was a political party and a movement against one-party system in Kenya. However, it split before the 1992 General elections, the first multiparty elections held in Kenya....
. In August 1992 the original FORD (Forum for the Restoration of Democracy
Forum for the Restoration of Democracy
Forum for the Restoration of Democracy was a political party and a movement against one-party system in Kenya. However, it split before the 1992 General elections, the first multiparty elections held in Kenya....
) split into two factions.
The Odinga
Jaramogi Oginga Odinga
Jaramogi Ajuma Oginga Odinga was a Luo Chief, who became a prominent figure in Kenya's struggle for independence. He later served as Kenya's first Vice-President, and thereafter as opposition leader...
-Kijana faction remained in the original Nairobi party headquarters at Agip House on Haile Selassie Avenue whilst the Matiba
Kenneth Matiba
Kenneth Matiba is a Kenyan politician. He was the second-place candidate in the 1992 presidential election.Matiba became a senior civil servant at a young age of 31...
-Shikuku faction moved to Muthithi House on Muthithi Road in Westlands
Westlands
Westlands is a neighborhood in the city of Nairobi, the capital and largest city in Kenya.-Location:Westlands is located , by road, northwest of the central business district of Nairobi...
. Thus for a period prior to registration as independent parties the two factions were known as FORD-Agip and FORD-Muthithi.
FORD-Agip was registered as FORD-Kenya whilst FORD-Muthithi was registered as FORD-Asili. Both parties went on to field competitive presidential candidates in the December 1992 elections.
FORD-Asili's candidate Kenneth Matiba
Kenneth Matiba
Kenneth Matiba is a Kenyan politician. He was the second-place candidate in the 1992 presidential election.Matiba became a senior civil servant at a young age of 31...
polled second to KANU
KANU
KANU or Kanu may refer to:*Kenya African National Union*KANU , a radio station licensed to Lawrence, Kansas, United States*Kanu - a kabuki play*Kanu Hawaii, a Hawaii based non profit...
's Daniel Toroitich arap Moi in 1992 and won 31 parliamentary seats , dominating Muranga District in Central Province and garnering a credible portion of the votes in Eastern and Western Provinces.
By 1997 Kenneth Matiba
Kenneth Matiba
Kenneth Matiba is a Kenyan politician. He was the second-place candidate in the 1992 presidential election.Matiba became a senior civil servant at a young age of 31...
and Martin Shikuku disagreed on a number of matters resulting in Matiba's departure from the party, his destruction of his voter's card and refusal to stand in the 1997 Presidential Elections. Martin Shikuku therefore won the party presidential nomination and went on to win only 0.6% of the Presidential Vote with the party winning 1 National Assembly seat.
In the 2002 election, Ford-Asili won 2 out of 212 elected seats and did not field a presidential candidate, supporting the successful NARC alliance candidate Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki is the current and third President of the republic of Kenya.Kibaki was previously Vice President of Kenya for ten years from 1978–1988 and also held cabinet ministerial positions, including a widely acclaimed stint as Minister for Finance , Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for...
.
In 2007
Kenyan general election, 2007
Kenyan general election, 2007 was held on 27 December 2007 . It comprised Presidential, parliamentary and civic elections. The previous general election in Kenya was held in 2002.-See also:*Kenyan presidential election, 2007...
, Ford-Asili supported Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki
Mwai Kibaki is the current and third President of the republic of Kenya.Kibaki was previously Vice President of Kenya for ten years from 1978–1988 and also held cabinet ministerial positions, including a widely acclaimed stint as Minister for Finance , Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for...
again as presidential candidate this time under the Party of National Unity
Party of National Unity
The Party of National Unity is a political party in several countries:*Party of National Unity *Party of National Unity *Party of National Unity *Party of National Unity , of Georgia*Party of National Unity...
banner and won a single parliamentary seat in its own right (Kirinyaga Central - John Kariuki). In the same election the party's original presidential candidate Kenneth Matiba
Kenneth Matiba
Kenneth Matiba is a Kenyan politician. He was the second-place candidate in the 1992 presidential election.Matiba became a senior civil servant at a young age of 31...
re-registered as a voter and stood under the Saba Saba-Asili banner (Saba Saba referring to 7 July 1990: the date of riots in Kenya to demand the return of multipartyism). Matiba came 7th with only 0.081% of the vote.
Elections in Kenya
Elections in Kenya
Elections in Kenya in recent years have been cause for violence and fragmentation, such as during the presidential elections of 2007. Though a multiparty democracy since 1992 and holding elections since 1962, the country has serious institutional problems which make it hard for elections to be...