President Kenyatta, during the Jubilee Parliamentary Group meeting at State House, Nairobi on Friday, February 4, told the party members who have remained loyal to him that he will ensure they have enough resources to facilitate their campaigns.
A source privy to the discussions and who sought anonymity told kenyagist.com that the Head of State further promised the group that he will ensure the party retains its identity and strength despite some members having bolted and joined rival political outfits.
“He told us that he is not a mean person and that he is willing to facilitate our campaigns. But this will only apply to those who secure the party ticket after the nominations,†the source, who is a serving Member of Parliament, told kenyagist.com.
“The President is a very good man, he promised to also help us with our campaigns and join us where he can.â€
However, it was not clear whether the President will facilitate the campaigns fully or what exact activities he will finance.
The Jubilee PG further resolved to retain President Kenyatta as the party leader and fast track the party elections to install new leadership.
The meeting, which was attended by less than 60 members from both the National Assembly and the Senate, came after the loyalists expressed their dissatisfaction in the manner the ruling party was being led. Some, including Murang’a Woman Representative Sabina Chege, had threatened to decamp if pending issues were not resolved.
The Jubilee Party, which catapulted President Kenyatta to State House for the second term in 2017, has had a rocky leadership since the Head of State fell out with his deputy, William Ruto.
Ruto, who served as the party’s deputy leader, joined – although unofficially – the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and has since been popularising the party and its Bottom-Up economic model.
The Deputy President, who is eyeing the presidency when the country goes to the polls on August 9, has made it clear that he has no intention of going back to the Jubilee Party.
On the other hand, President Kenyatta – a handshake partner to Raila Odinga – has openly backed the opposition chief to take over once he retires in August.
Odinga, the leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and the Azimio la Umoja, has since received the backing of Mt Kenya billionaires who have bankrolled Kenyatta’s presidential campaigns in the past.
The President is scheduled to commence countrywide tours with Odinga as he seeks to solidify their friendship which was birthed in March 2018 through the symbolic handshake which signified the end of animosity between the two leaders.
The two, Kenyatta and Odinga, could not see eye-to-eye privy to the handshake, with the latter accusing the President of using state resources to manipulate the voting patterns.
Odinga lost the 2013 and 2017 elections to Kenyatta. He, however, contested the results at the Supreme Court. In 2013, the Apex Court – under the leadership of Chief Justice (Rtd) Willy Mutunga upheld Kenyatta’s win.
In 2017, the same court – under Chief Justice (Rtd) David Kenany Maraga – annulled the presidential elections, ruling that the process was incredible and characterised by technical irregularities.
The country would then return to the polls in October with Kenyatta winning with over 98 per cent of the votes in a repeat election that was boycotted by the opposition under the leadership of Odinga. The Supreme Court, however, upheld the victory of the Jubilee Party.
As things stand, the presidential contest in this year’s poll remains between Odinga and Ruto, both of whom have expressed optimism that they will capture the country’s top seat.
Source: KENYAGIST.COM
