Battle for control of Ford Kenya moves to registrar of parties
George Kebaso @ Morarak
The battle for control of Ford Kenya has now been taken to the Registrar of Political Parties (RPP) Anne Nderitu with two main factions claiming to be the bona fide officials of the party founded by the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga.
Yesterday was a day of drama as the two groups engaged each other across Nairobi as they fought to take control of the party leading their war to the registrar’s office and the media.
However, it is understood that the Registrar declined to ratify the recent changes presented to her separately by each group and instead advised the two parties to resolve their wrangles internally.
At a hotel near State House, Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi and Ford Kenya Secretary General, Eseli Simiyu told journalists that a special party National Executive Council (NEC) had formalised the removal of Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula as its leader.
The duo said they had filed the party’s returns with the RPP and were confidently awaiting ratification.
“We hope the Registrar of Political Parties is going to accept our returns which we filed strictly within the required timelines,” Wamunyinyi said.
He said the intention of the ongoing process is aimed at strengthening the party, which he said had not, for nine years, held any formal meeting.
And at Simba House, Ford Kenya headquarters, Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa dismissed the Wamunyinyi-led group terming it fraudulent as they remain suspended from the party.
“That Eseli Simiyu was suspended and in his place, Chris wamalwa was elected as the Secretary General of the Party in acting capacity.
That Wafula Wamunyinyi was suspended and replaced by Hon Vincent Kemosi as the Secretary Agriculture, Livestock and Food Policy of the party in acting capacity, and That Hon Cynthia Mutere was suspended and replaced by Hon Roselinda Andambi as leader Women’s League of the Party in acting capacity,” he said.
Wamalwa said in a statement. Wamalwa said the party leadership remains firmly under the leadership of Wetang’ula.
