African Union envoy, Raila Odinga, met with several leaders opposed to Deputy President William Ruto at Idamat, Kajiado County, reportedly holding talks on Ruto's future.
A report aired by NTV on Monday night, April 13, detailed that Jubilee Vice-Chairman David Murathe, Central Organisation Trade Union boss Francis Atwoli, Senate minority leader James Orengo and Suna East MP Junet Mohamed were parties to the meeting.
Blogger Dennis Itumbi, on the very day also disclosed that Atwoli played host to the politicians. In the meeting, national unity, new formations and Ruto's 2022 agenda were the subjects of discussion.
"It is not like we cannot move on. And if it is the party, we can move on to a bigger house than Jubilee. People can expect new formations. Nothing stops us from broadening and in post Coronavirus, I believe the country needs a new formation which focuses on uniting the nation and rebuilding it.
"This cannot work if we have some people whose focus is in 2022. The DP only woke up when he felt his position in Jubilee was threatened. Even if we would still be in charge of Jubilee, we would want it to extend the arm to other parties" Murathe stated.
Another agenda discussed in the meeting was how to navigate and steer the country if Kenyatta and Ruto part ways.
"Normally in Kenya, we know that formations are obvious. If Ruto was excluded, there is nothing wrong with that. But he has excluded himself too. He is running away from President Uhuru Kenyatta, the head of Jubilee Party," Atwoli argued.
"Murathe, if you want to form a new party with Raila, do so as it is your right. For us, we want to stay in dignity and work for the people. If you want to form the government and expand the cabinet, do so.
"Who does Murathe speak for, at least for me I speak for over 75,000 people who voted for me. Let them walk out. Kama ni mbaya ni mbaya my friend, kufa dereva, kufa makanga (If the situation is worse, let it be worse)," Gatundu South MP, Moses Kuria, Ruto's ally, hit back as quoted in the NTV report.
Odinga's meeting with his allies comes at a moment when Jubilee is in disarray, with DP Ruto and his allies against impromptu changes to the composition of the National Management Committee (NMC).
Ruto, on Sunday, April 12, had distanced Kenyatta from the changes, a move which backfired as Murathe and Jubilee secretary-general Raphael Tuju disclosed that Kenyatta was the voice behind the transformations.
"The President and party leader of the Jubilee Party did not and cannot be a party to any fraudulent and illegal changes to officials of our party. This is the work of political rejects, conmen and fraudsters whose party allegiance is already elsewhere. They should give us a break and leave Jubilee Party alone," Ruto tweeted.
In an interview with the Standard on Monday, April 13, Murathe argued that Kenyatta was also targetting the Parliament, which key changes in hand.
"The president does not need the National Executive Committee to make changes to the party leadership anywhere, including in parliament where he is targetting next. So what the DP is trying to do is to stop the president," Murathe stated.
"I have access to the instruments of communication of the party. We do communicate with the party leader but I cannot discuss the mode of our communication," Tuju added.
Videos: NTV
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