Wetang'ula has less than a week to save his post

Ford Kenya leader Moses Wetang'ula with supporters leaves the offices of the registrar of parties in Westlands, Nairobi on June 8. [Collins Kweyu, Standard]

Embattled Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang'ula has less than seven days to save himself from ouster as the Ford Kenya party leader.

This is after the Registrar of Political Parties Ann Nderitu yesterday gazetted the intention of his removal from the annex of the party, a move that if unopposed, will hand over the leadership to Wetangula’s political nemesis.

Ms Nderitu reviewed the submissions presented by secretary general Eseli Simiyu faction against the relevant laws, including the Political Parties Act, Ford Kenya Constitution and records of the party in their possession.

She gave notice of Wetangu'la’s replacement with Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi, the mastermind of the plot to overthrow the senator as party leader.

Josephine Maungu will assume the party’s national organising secretary roles from Chris Mandu should the faction finally manage to effect the changes.

The registrar has called for written submissions concerning the mutiny to her office within a specific period as required by Section 20 of the Political Parties Act.

“Any person with written submissions concerning the intended change by the political party shall, within seven days from the date herein, deposit them with the Registrar of Political Parties,” Nderitu said in a special gazette notice dated June 8.

And should there be no objections within the specified period or are submitted but are found not to be substantive, then Wetangu'la will cease to be the party leader.

Yesterday, the Bungoma senator trooped to the registrar’s offices at Lion’s Place building in Westlands, Nairobi, where they held a closed-door meeting with the registrar.

Wetangula dismissed the intended ouster and accused the rival camp led by his lieutenants turned foe Wafula Wamunyinyi and Eseli Simiyu (Tongaren) of staging an unconstitutional coup.

Ford Kenya’s National Executive Council on May 31 dethroned Wetangu'la for failing to provide inspiring leadership, causing disunity in the party and moral impropriety in last year’s Dubai gold scandal saga.