- May 2020, the party’s National Executive Council reportedly resolved to remove Wetang'ula as party leader replacing him with Wamunyinyi on an interim basis.
- Eseli questioned the membership of NGC saying most people who attended were handpicked and are not bonafide members.
A group led by Bungoma Senator Moses Wetang’ula on Saturday convened a National General Council meeting and announced exiting National Super Alliance.
This has led to an eruption of fresh Ford Kenya factional wars hours after the exit resolve.
Another Ford Kenya faction led by Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi and Tongaren MP Eseli Simiyu rubbished the resolution saying they have no authority to make decisions on behalf of the Lion party.
Speaking to the Star on phone, Wamunyinyi and Eseli said the Wetang’ula wing cannot purport to speak on behalf of the party when there is an active leadership dispute in court.
Wamunyinyi said whatever they have done contravenes the requirement of the court.
"They have no authority to speak for us, genuine officials of Ford Kenya. Therefore we do not recognise whatever decision they take,” the MP said.
“We strongly condemn Wetangula running around masquerading to be leader of Ford Kenya when he is not. He knows he was fired; he is operating on a court injunction,” Wamunyinyi said.
The leaders were responding to the announcement made by the wing allied to Bungoma senator.
"Ford Kenya now and hereby resigns with immediate effect from Nasa," Wetangula announced.
If the resolution stands, Ford Kenya will become the fourth Nasa affiliate party to announce leaving the opposition coalition.
Former Prime Minister Raila Odinga's ODM, Musalia Mudavadi's ANC and Kalonzo Musyoka's Wiper have all announced their exits.
However, none of them has formally written to the Registrar of Political Parties Ann Nderitu as required by law.
Eseli questioned the membership of NGC who met on Saturday saying most of the people who attended are not bonafide members.
“Even that General Council was not properly convened, people attending were not elected from the grassroots, they just handpicked, ” Eseli said.
The Tongaren lawmaker said NEC had to first ratify the decision of the Management Council before it was subjected to NGC.
He said the party's NEC has not been convened rendering Saturday's meeting an illegality.
“The people they called were not genuine officials of Ford Kenya and nobody should rely on them as official position of Ford Kenya,” the Kanduyi MP added.
In May 2020, the party’s National Executive Council reportedly resolved to remove Wetang'ula as party leader and replaced him with Wamunyinyi on an interim basis.
The decision was arrived at after the party’s special National Executive Council meeting in Nairobi.
The party’s NEC accused Wetangula of gross misconduct and failing to champion unity in the party.
Other charges levelled against Wetang’ula included failing to reconcile warring members to eliminate friction in the party.
The former Minority Leader in the Senate was also accused of failing to provide inspiring leadership to the party.
Wetang'ula moved to court and obtained orders stopping his removal, pending hearing and determination of the matter.
(Edited by Bilha Makokha)