Wetangula dismisses ouster from FORD Kenya, suspends SG Eseli Simiyu

Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula has dismissed a FORD Kenya meeting that was held on Sunday to remove him from the party leadership.

Speaking just hours after the announcement of his ouster, Wetangula rebutted saying the National Executive Committee would discipline errant members who held the ‘illegal’ meeting.

“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,” he told the Press at the part headquarters.

Wetangula then stated that NEC has suspended the party’s Secretary General Eseli Simiyu–who had announced his ouster— and replaced him with Chris Wamalwa in the interim.

He further announced that Wafula Wamunyinyi—who was to take over as party leader– has also been suspended and been replaced by Vincent Mogaka as Sectoral Chair for Livestock.

“We condemn any idlers who are staging parochial coups in the party when the country is facing COVID-19 challenges, floods and locust invasion,” he said.

According to Wetangula, Richard Onyonka (MP Kitutu Chache South) was put under immense pressure to accept to be part of this scheme for his ouster but he refused. “He remains the hero of this party,” Wetangula said.

He also reiterated that that Ford Kenya supports the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) saying he has been at all the rallies supporting expansion of the leadership in the  country.

On his part, Chris Wamalwa faulted Simiyu for being part of the faction for Wetangula’s ouster.

“Our secretary General was very moribund today..it’s good riddance. The SG had made this party to die, we will ensure party discipline. Ford Kenya is going to form the next government or form the next government with other people. We have been having old tires but today we have replaced the tires with the new ones in our journey for State House,” he said.