New details have emerged about a secret meeting that took place between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy, William Ruto, whose resolutions are set to shake up the Jubilee Party.
According to a report by the Daily Nation, the two leaders discreetly met on Monday, February 3, where they resolved that Jubilee Party MPs needed to meet to streamline issues that have split the party into two camps.
Quoting the party secretary-general, Raphael Tuju, the publication noted that the meeting took place shortly before Uhuru flew out for his US trip following another meeting a week before.
After the meeting, the president is reported to have ordered Tuju to convene a Jubilee Party meeting which was initially slated for Friday, February 7, but was postponed in honour of the departed former President Daniel arap Moi.
This will be the first formal gathering of Jubilee Party members since the 2017 general elections.
Tuju explained that it was not a parliamentary group meeting but rather a consultative meeting since the president, who is the party leader, would not be chairing it.
Uhuru and Ruto had spent an entire afternoon in the closed-door meeting before arriving at the conclusion.
“The consultative meeting will not be technically a Parliamentary Group (PG) meeting, because it will not be chaired by the party leader, but it will be an occasion to have a discourse with members and to give an update on various issues of interest and concern in the party,” read part of a statement released by Tuju.
Tuju told the Daily Nation that the meeting was expected to be chaired by an individual who will be appointed by the party leadership.
“Well, all MPs are not only expected to attend but in fact, they are required to present themselves. On who will chair the meeting it will be decided by the party leadership,” continued Tuju.
According to a number of politicians who have confirmed attendance, the meeting is expected to discuss the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) among other issues before Parliament reconvenes from recess.
Other issues that were allegedly on the roster include BBI rallies, internal elections, Jubilee development agenda and succession politics.
Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen noted that he was not sure whether the DP would be attending the meeting.
“Perhaps it’s Mr Tuju who will chair it. I am not aware of the contents of the agenda, but I largely expect something in the line of executive expectations of us in the coming year.
"I also expect the Big 4 Agenda and our contributions as Parliament on the BBI agenda. That is to mean whether we should expect to make any new laws or amend the constitution,” stated Murkomen.
Uhuru toured the US and met President Donald Trump since Monday, February 3, before returning into the country on the night of Friday, February 7.
The trip yielded among other things the signing of the amendment Bilateral Air Services Agreement will see airlines from both countries allowed to establish and operate cargo hubs in the other country.
