The Jubilee Party has announced that it will not field candidates in the forthcoming by-elections in Ugenya and Embakasi South.
In a press statement sent to media houses on Friday, the party’s Secretary-General Raphael Tuju stated that the call was made after serious deliberation.
Notably, the handshake between President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM Party leader Raila Odinga in March 2018 led Jubilee Party to pull out of the two by-elections as a sign of goodwill.
Tuju said the ruling party is acting in the best interest of various initiatives that will reduce political tension in the country.
“This is in the spirit of furthering the steps of constructive engagements with the other main parties engaged in the contest and with an eye on the bigger picture," he stated.
The former Rarieda MP also urged those involved in the forthcoming election to exhibit maturity and maintenance of peace.
The Supreme Court nullified the victories of MPs Christopher Karan (Ugenya) and Julius Mawathe (Embakasi South) in December 2018 on grounds that they were not validly elected.
Karan’s election had been challenged by former Ugenya MP David Ochieng while former Embakasi South MP Ishrad Sumra had filed a petition against Mawathe.
Interestingly, Mawathe and Sumra both belong to National Super Alliance (NASA). While Mawathe is a member of the Wiper Democratic Party of Kenya, the latter is an ODM member.
The two by-elections will be held on April 5, 2019.
