President William Ruto’s meeting with Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) allied to the Jubilee Party yesterday appeared to recognise the leadership of a faction pushing to walk out of the Azimio Coalition.
The move might cause concerns between the Head of State and the Opposition which has been accusing the latter of fighting multi-partyism by engaging with the elected leaders in the parties.
President Ruto met over 120 MCAs drawn from the former ruling party at State House, Nakuru who were led by politicians of one of the factions which isheaded by Nominated MP Sabina Chege.
The Jubilee Party is chaired by former President Uhuru Kenyatta who also happens to be the chairman of the Azimio coalition.
In their first engagement with the President in February last year, Jubilee MPs pledged to work with the government, a move that was opposed by a faction led by Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni.
The matter also escalated to the National Dialogue Committee. It was one of the agendas which sought to bar the ruling coalition from pouching members of the opposition as it was a threat to multi-party democracy.
The move prompted Uhuru to convene a Special National Delegates meeting on May 22, 2o23, only for the Sabina led faction Secretary General Kanini Kega to move to court to seek orders to stop the meeting.
Kioni’s team immediately hit back and expelled Kega and Chege and announced a new line up of the National Executive Committee members.
New team
Among those named in the new team were Jamleck Kamau (National Director of Elections), Maison Leshoomo (National Women’s League chairperson), Agnes Thumbi (National Youth League leader) and Nderitu Mureithi (business council leader). Matters were to change for the worse after Uhuru asked them to vacate the seats they were holding since they had ceased being Jubilee party members. “Just move and leave us be in peace. Those seats that we gave you, please return them and we give them to others,” Uhuru said.
Then, Chege was de-whipped from the Minority Whip’s office and replaced by Embakasi West MP Mark Mwenje.
Chege, Kega and Eldas MP Adan Keynan led the faction in exiting the Azimio Coalition partnership in a National Executive Committee meeting.
This was after the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal barred the Jubilee rebel faction led by EALA MP Kega and Chege from acting on behalf of the Jubilee Party.
Stopped from leaving
The Tribunal directed the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties to stop the Chege faction from walking out of Azimio as it was against the Political Parties Act.
The matter is, however, still active in court following an application made by the Kioni faction.
Yesterday Chege reiterated that her party will work with the government to advance the country’s development agenda. She urged members of the Jubilee Party to work with their Kenya Kwanza counterparts in Parliament and county assemblies.
Keynan said President Ruto’s detractors are out to sabotage his agenda adding that the Jubilee Party will support the government agenda both in parliament and the counties now that the MCAs are on board.
“Countries that have progressed succeeded because of firm and decisive leadership,” Keynan said. Chege urged Jubilee members to stand firm in their commitment to support the government.
“We have made a decision; let us stick with that decision,” she said.
Addressing the MCAs, President Ruto called on leaders from across the political divide to set aside differences and work together to advance the country’s development agenda.
The President noted that Kenyans have abandoned tribal politics in favour of ideas and plans that will transform their lives.
He explained that during the 2022 General Election, he garnered 25 per cent of votes in 39 counties, a demonstration that Kenya is moving towards unity.
“Elections are behind us. The most important thing now is for us to unite, work together and plan for the country’s transformation,” he said.
The President made the remarks on Thursday during a meeting with Jubilee Party Members of County Assembly at State House Nakuru.
The 120 out of the party’s 127 MCAs pledged to support the Government agenda in their respective county assemblies.
Present were Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, National Chairman Nelson Dzuya, and United Democratic Alliance Secretary-General Cleophas Malala.
President Ruto assured the MCAs that the Kenya Kwanza Government supports a Bill seeking to make county assemblies autonomous to enhance their independence.
“This will enable county assemblies to hold the executive accountable and improve transparency,” he said.
He added that the government endorses the creation of a pension plan for MCAs, and they will be required to contribute towards it.
The Head of State lauded Jubilee as a national party with representatives from across the country.
President Ruto told leaders in the country to have the courage to make the right decisions for the country however difficult the decisions are likely to be.
He noted that leaders can no longer afford to delay or derail the transformation of the country by making convenient and popular decisions.
“I will always make the right decisions. You can never go wrong by making the right decision,” he added.
The President said the Government is keen on managing the country’s debt which, he explained, has slowed the development of the country.
“If for every KSh10 collected in Kenya KSh7 goes to pay debt, and then we have a problem. It should be the other way round,” he added.
Gachagua said the government is keen on working with like-minded leaders to drive the country’s transformation agenda.
He affirmed that President Ruto is steadfast in steering economic recovery and guiding the country toward growth.
“Your Excellency, you are on the right track. Do not allow your detractors to distract you from implementing your manifesto,” he added.
Kega commended the President for taking bold but necessary steps aimed at transforming the country in the long term.
“In most cases, we make popular decisions. However, you have made difficult decisions that may not be popular now but will benefit the country in future,” he said.
hold the executive accountable and improve transparency,” he said.
He added that the government endorses the creation of a pension plan for MCAs, and they will be required to contribute towards it.
The Head of State lauded Jubilee as a national party with representatives from across the country.
President Ruto told leaders in the country to have the courage to make the right decisions for the country however difficult the decisions are likely to be.
He noted that leaders can no longer afford to delay or derail the transformation of the country by making convenient and popular decisions.
“I will always make the right decisions. You can never go wrong by making the right decision,” he added.
The President said the Government is keen on managing the country’s debt which, he explained, has slowed the development of the country.
“If for every KSh10 collected in Kenya KSh7 goes to pay debt, and then we have a problem. It should be the other way round,” he added.
Gachagua said the government is keen on working with like-minded leaders to drive the country’s transformation agenda.
He affirmed that President Ruto is steadfast in steering economic recovery and guiding the country toward growth.
“Your Excellency, you are on the right track. Do not allow your detractors to distract you from implementing your manifesto,” he added.
Kega commended the President for taking bold but necessary steps aimed at transforming the country in the long term.
“In most cases, we make popular decisions. However, you have made difficult decisions that may not be popular now but will benefit the country in future,” he said.
