UPDATE 13:10 p.m.: Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula held his own presser following the meeting, dismissing the purported changes and maintaining that he is still the Party Leader.
He further made changes to the party's top organs, among them the removal of his purported replacement as Party Leader, Wafula Wamunyinyi.
Wetangula announced that Secretary General Eseli Simiyu would be replaced by Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa, Wamunyinyi replaced on the NEC by Vincent Kemosi, and that Roselida Adambi would replace Cynthia Mutere as Chair of the Women's League.
Bungoma Senator Moses Wetangula was on Sunday, May 31, dismissed as the party leader of Ford Kenya following a meeting of the party's National Executive Council (NEC) at Raddison Blu, Nairobi.
Also removed was the party Organising Secretary Chris Mandu Mandu in a chaotic meeting that saw allies of Wetangula storm the venue at one point.
Kanduyi MP Wafula Wamunyinyi was selected to serve as the interim Party Leader. Kwanza MP Ferdinand Wanyonyi, who stormed the meeting accompanied by a large group of youth, claimed that Bungoma Governor Wycliffe Wangamati convened the meeting to carry out a coup and seize control of the party from Wetangula.
Ford Kenya Secretary General Eseli Simiyu also backed the changes, with a statement seen by Kenyans.co.ke outlining accusations against Wetangula.
He was accused of, among other things, failing to inspire leadership, failing to unite the party and undertaking actions contrary to the party's aspirations by interfering in past election nominations.
The allegations of involvement in a gold scam that surfaced about Wetangula in 2019 were also cited by those behind his ouster.
"Failing to be a symbol of unity in the party contrary to Clause 49(1)(a) of the party constitution.
"Failing to champion the party's campaign to unite the country, win elections and form the next government contrary to clause 49(1 (c) of the party constitution by interfering with the party's candidates nomination exercise during the 2017 elections.
"Failing to provide inspiring leadership to the party, contrary to Claus 49(f) of the Party Constitution," a list of charges against him read in part.
The ouster came at a time when Ford Kenya was alleged to be among parties contemplating signing post-election coalition agreements with the Jubilee Party.
Of the three NASA co-principals, only Amani National Congress (ANC) party leader Musalia Mudavadi has declared that he has no plans of entering into a coalition with Jubilee.
He has also made it clear that before any of the NASA member parties can enter an agreement with Jubilee, they have to dissolve the opposition outfit.
Wiper Democratic Movement leader Kalonzo Musyoka has also expressed willingness to work with Jubilee while Raila Odinga's Orange Democratic Movement has backed Uhuru since the March 9, 2018 handshake, albeit without a coalition agreement.
Watch the moment Kwanza MP Ferdinand Wanyonyi stormed the meeting below:
