Registrar of parties halts Wetangúla’s bid to regain Ford Kenya

The Registrar of Political Parties has stopped Ford-Kenya leader Moses Wetang'ula (pictured) from holding a meeting today, aimed at helping him regain control of the outfit.

The National Executive Council (NEC) meeting scheduled for today was convened by Mr Wetang’ula to ratify expulsion of Secretary-General Eseli Simiyu and Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi.

Mr Wamunyinyi and Mr Simiyu led a team that toppled Wetang'ula. The two then proceeded to install themselves as party leader and secretary general respectively, before the leadership dispute was taken to the High Court.

In a letter to Wetang'ula, the Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu said it would be sub-judice to convene such a meeting before the High Court makes a ruling on who are bonafide party officials.

Ms Nderitu further reminded Wetang'ula of his letter, suspending any party meetings due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic.

“This office acknowledges receipt of your letter dated July 27, 2020 of notice of the above meeting. The office also acknowledges and makes reference to your letter dated July 24, 2020, putting on hold such a meeting over Covid-19 pandemic,” reads the letter by Nderitu.

Null and void

She further reminded the party of President Uhuru Kenyatta's ban on all political gatherings over the virus.

Wetang'ual, in his letter to the party officials, had indicated that the meeting to be held at Park Place Hotel in Nairobi was to “read and confirm” minutes of NEC meeting held on May 31.

Resolutions of the NEC meeting that took place the day the Bungoma Senator was toppled included the suspension of Eseli and Wamunyinyi and replacing them. Eseli was therefore replaced by Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa, in the interim, and Wamunyinyi by West Mugirango MP Vincent Mogaka as Sectoral Chair for Livestock.

The registrar however declared the resolutions null and void after the group failed to raise a quorum of the NEC as stipulated in Ford-Kenya constitution. “The NEC and PG meeting held on May 31 did not meet the applicable quorum to hear and determine disciplinary matters,” Nderitu said.

Eseli on Saturday declared the meeting “null and void” in what is set to renew the battle for control of the party. “The NEC meeting called for Monday August 17, 2020 is hereby cancelled,” said Eseli.