This archive report was first published on 12 June 2020.
On June 12, 2020, a significant development occurred in the FORD-Kenya party leadership dispute. The Registrar of Political Parties, Anne Nderitu, rescinded her gazette notice on FORD-Kenya leadership changes, effectively withdrawing her recognition of Eseli Simiyu and Wafula Wamunyinyi as Interim Secretary General and Party Leader respectively.
As a result, Moses Wetangula, the embattled FORD-Kenya Party Leader, withdrew his petition before the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT). Wetangula's lawyers, led by Law Society of Kenya President Nelson Havi, informed the tribunal of the decision.
Wetangula had initially filed a petition seeking to bar Wamunyinyi and Wafula from taking FORD Kenya leadership. However, with the gazette notice rescinded, the need for the petition was rendered moot.
Wamunyinyi's lawyer, Stephen Ligunya, maintained that the Gazette Notice still stands and that the two officials remain in office. However, this assertion was disputed by Wetangula's camp.
Wetangula had claimed that some 14 signatures collected for his ouster were made by imposters who are not members of the party's National Executive Council. In response to the leadership change, Wetangula urged his supporters to dismiss the 'illegal ouster' and called for a fresh election.
“Don’t panic, coups are archaic to good order and activities of cowards. Anybody who wants to run for a seat in Ford Kenya file your papers and let’s meet at Bomas. I have no doubt delegates will still give me a chance to run this party,” said Wetangula.
