Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka has been stopped from carrying out activities of the New Ford Kenya in the capacity of the party leader until a court case filed by members is concluded.
In application before the High Court in Bungoma, certified as urgent, six interim officials moved to stop Lusaka from carrying any business on behalf of the party, arguing he was not the bonafide party leader.
Lusaka had purportedly taken over the party from Water CS Eugene Wamalwa on April 28 last year after he was appointed to the Cabinet.
The six interim officials are Captain Masinde (secretary) and Benjamin Wanyonyi (treasurer), Pius Kidika, Jane Mukholi, Nathan Khaemba and Justus Mbinga.
They said Lusaka was not duly elected as the party leader.
In the application they argue that after the NEC proposed Lusaka for party leader the decision was supposed to be ratified by the national delegates conference but this did not happen.
The officials further argue that according to records at the registrar of political parties, Wamalwa is the bonafide party leader and it is wrong for Lusaka, a member, to speak on behalf of the party or call for a national delegates' conference.
The officials want the court to give them a go-ahead to call for elections, saying former NEC officials got state jobs and cannot engage in party politics.
They said former secretary general Benjamin Muema is now the chairman of the Kenya Water Institute, Julius Bakasa is the county director of disaster management and Joshua Werunga is a director of the Athi Water Services Board.
Judge Abida Aroni certified the matter urgent and stopped Lusaka from carrying out business on behalf of the party until the case is determined.
The hearing is set for April 26.
Speaking to the Star on the phone, Wamalwa said he officially resigned as party leader before he was vetted in Parliament for the CS post.
He said Lusaka is the bonafide party leader.
“I resigned from the party and handed over power and the NEC chose Lusaka as the leader. It is upon this that the Parliament Vetting Committee chaired by the speaker cleared me after receiving a letter from the registrar of political parties,” Wamalwa said.
The case might bring to a halt grassroot membership drive that Lusaka launched a fortnight ago.