Will Jubilee Party still be there in 2022 for Deputy President William Ruto to use for climbing to the topmost political seat? Former Jubilee vice chairman David Murathe is engineering a mass walkout of members opposed to Ruto’s presidential bid.
Murathe, who unexpectedly resigned as vice chairman on Sunday, said those opposed to Ruto will form a new coalition to stop the DP from succeeding President Uhuru Kenyatta.
“We are ready to form a new coalition and I can tell you for sure it will crush Ruto and his group. I can tell him for free that he will be lucky to be an opposition leader,” Murathe told a local daily.
On Sunday night, Murathe said that he was forming a stop-Ruto movement.
“We are dealing with a personality [Ruto] whom some of us believe is not suitable for that office. He has his supporters, we have our own people who are thinking alike. We will have these formations and Kenyans will select which one will work best for them,” Murathe said during an interview on KTN news on Sunday night.
It is said that Murathe is planning to either join an existing party or form a totally new one. The new party will then form an alliance with Raila Odinga’s ODM, Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper and ANC’s Musalia Mudavadi — with one presidential candidate.
Murathe is vehemently opposed to Ruto’s bid,saying the DP is unfit to lead Kenya. He has pledged to do everything possible to stop Ruto, including going to the Supreme Court.
The emerging split and new formation are likely to radically alter the country’s political equation.
In an unprecedented move, allies of the Deputy President are demanding answers from President Kenyatta about why there is an onslaught against the DP by his close associates.
With the future of Jubilee now doubtful, 13 affiliate parties that folded to form it have convened crisis talks next week to review the situation and map their next steps.
The 18-month-old party was unveiled with glitz and fanfare as Uhuru’s re-election vehicle, which would then be used by Ruto to run for President in 2022.