Ford-Kenya rivals agree to settle dispute out of court

Ford-K leader Moses Wetang'ula (right) and MP Eseli Simiyu.

A dispute over leadership of Ford-Kenya will be resolved internally after the warring sides agreed to withdraw the matter from court.

Embattled Ford-Kenya party leader Moses Wetang’ula and his faction had moved to the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) to overturn a coup staged by his rivals but decided to terminate the case and seek internal party dispute resolution.

PPDT chairman Desma Nungo, members Milly Lwanga and Dr Adelaide Mbithi allowed the applicants to withdraw the matter upon application by lawyers.

“Upon hearing the oral submissions by the parties, it is hereby ordered that the complaint is marked as withdrawn with each party to bear its own costs,” ruled the tribunal.

The application to withdraw the case was not opposed by Wetang’ula’s opponents, Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi and Tongaren MP Eseli Simiyu.

Wetang’ula had sought the PPDT intervention to stop the Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu from effecting changes at the party to recognise Mr Wamunyinyi as the new party leader.

Lawyer Eunice Lumallas for Wetang’ula said the party has a disciplinary committee to handle any dispute and that Wamunyinyi and Dr Simuyu should have approached the committee if they had any grievances against the party leader.