Winstone Chiseremi @Wchiseremi

More than 15 Jubilee Party MPs from Rift Valley, Western and Mt Kenya regions, who are allied to Deputy President William Ruto, yesterday asked President Uhuru Kenyatta to state his stand on the party’s 2022 succession plan.

The leaders asked the Head of State to declare his stand instead of leaving them in suspense over the matter, which they termed emotive.

Speaking in Uasin Gishu county, the MPs, who were led by Kandara MP Alice Wahome, expressed fears that the country might plunge into chaos if the ruling party will not manage its succession plan well.

“We are asking the President, who is also our party leader, to come open over the 2022 succession plans because if not well managed, it can cause a problem to the country,” said Wahome.

She cautioned the President against “being held hostage by ODM party leader Raila Odinga” on matters related to the ruling party if he expects the succession plan to be managed properly.

Infiltrate party 

“It is unfortunate that the Opposition leader has infiltrated the ruling party and is out to complicate our succession plans with the aim of derailing DP’s quest to succeed the President when he exits office in 2022,” said Wahome.

The MPs were speaking at St Mary’s Queen of Peace Parish Osorongai in Turbo constituency where they had been hosted by Ruto’s personal assistant Farouk Kibet.

They included Ben Washiali (Mumias East), Didmus Barasa (Kilimili), Robert Pkose (Endebes), Oscah Sudi (Kapseret), Purity Ngirici (Kirinyaga woman rep), Janet Nangabo (TransNzoia woman rep), her Uasin Gishu counterpart Gladys Shollei and Janet Sitienei (Turbo).

Other leaders present were area Governor Jackson Mandago, former Kakamega senator Bonny Khalwale and former Agriculture minister Kipruto Kirwa.

Washiali asked the President not be misled by some forces within and outside Jubilee to extend his tenure in power through the Building Bridges Initiative after his term in office ends in 2022.

He said the leaders support the BBI report but expressed their reservations about  how the Opposition was driving the consultative meetings across the country, saying the process was not inclusive.

“The opposition has hatched plans to depict MPs allied to DP as anti-BBI report yet we have resolved to embrace the document in its original form,” said Washiali.

Create slots

Ngirici warned those pushing for the creation of additional regional governments to create slots for governors whose term in office will end in 2022 that their plans will fail terribly.

“We are aware of a scheme by some governors who are in their last term in office to create additional regional governments so that they can continue to serve in the new structure of governance,” said Ngirici. 

Khalwale told the Opposition leader to stop undermining the BBI process for his political gain ahead 2022 elections, saying that they will scuttle his scheme through the popular vote.

He said they will support constitutional amendments that will be beneficial to the ordinary citizens and not those that will add more burden to the country’s economy.

“Raila wants to use the BBI consultative forums to popularise himself ahead of 2022 and at the same time derail DP’s chances of succeeding the President by depicting him as anti-the process,” he said.

Barasa asked the President to ensure the printing and distribution of BBI report before Kenyans are asked to give their views during public participation meetings across the country.

“There is no need of holding consultative meetings in the country when copies of BBI report have not yet reached the people at the grass-root level,” said Barasa.