Jubilee tales continue to unfold each and every day. The rot in the system is each and everyday coming out clean. The true colors are being portrayed every day.
The struggling relationship between members of the Jubilee party are always blowing over the shelf.
Former Jubilee vice chairman David Murathe is engineering a mass walkout of members opposed to Deputy President William 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 the Star yesterday.
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.
Ruto’s allies have now trained their guns on party secretary general Raphael Tuju — another Uhuru ally — whom they insist must also quit. Tuju, like his boss, has termed the frenetic 2022 campaigning premature and unnecessary.
Calling for Tuju’s resignation are Oscar Sudi (Kapseret), Nelson Koech (Belgut), Hillary Koskei (Kipkelion East) and Caleb Kositany (Soi). The lawmakers accuse Tuju of being used by “outsiders” to destabilise Jubilee from within.
“We brought Tuju into Jubilee not because he had any support but because we just wanted to create a national face for the party. He is now baggage and should be removed,” Sudi said.
The vocal MP allied to the DP attributed Jubilee’s troubles to the handshake between Uhuru and ODM leader Raila Odinga on March 9.
“All was well until President Uhuru brought Raila Odinga in through the backdoor. You can’t bring a man we defeated in an election through the backdoor,” Washiali protested.
It’s the first time Jubilee MPs are directly taking on Uhuru in a clear signal that the gloves are off in the ruling party.
But speaking yesterday in Mombasa, an agitated Uhuru scoffed at some leaders, whom he did not name. He emphasised that greed for power cannot supersede national interests.
“Individual interests of leaders should not be allowed to override the welfare of Kenyans. We need to work together to ensure Kenyans get affordable houses, universal health coverage, create jobs through enhancing manufacturing and ensuring food security and nutrition” President Kenyatta said.