Jubilee leaders allied to Deputy President William Ruto have been kicked out of the party after changes proposed by Secretary-General Raphael Tuju were effected.
A report by Saturday Nation on May 2, 2020, stated that the secretariat had confirmed the new appointments despite protest by the DP and legislators allied to him.
DP Ruto had on April 10, 2020, rejected changes in Jubilee's structural leadership, terming the move as fraudulent. This was then in reference to a gazette notice by the registrar of public parties dated April 6, 2020, which informed of the new leadership.
"As Kenyans are focused on the Covid-19 pandemic, some shadowy characters are attempting to fraudulently institute illegal changes in officials of Jubilee party. As deputy leader, I have alerted the registrar of the fraud. Party members should know that the matter is being handled," Ruto had stated.
In line with a directive by the registrar of political parties, the deputy president's allies also presented formal letters in objection to the changes.
However, despite the protests, Tuju moved to formalise the appointment of Lucy Nyawira Macharia, Marete Marungu, Walter Nyambati, Jane Nampaso, and James Waweru, replacing Fatuma Shukri, Pamela Mutu, and Veronica Maina at the party's NMC.
The publication reported that the DP's camp would be moving to court to contest the changes.
Jubilee Vice-Chairman David Murathe stated that as far as he was concerned, the changes were a foregone conclusion, regardless of opposition from the DP's camp.
"For them to move to the dispute tribunal, there has to be a grievance, right? Certainly, that grievance can only be the changes in members of the national management committee, which to us is already taking effect," Murathe was quoted as saying.
Jubilee Deputy Secretary-General Caleb Kositany argued that the move to reshuffle the party's guard was unacceptable, further accusing Tuju of defying the party's leadership. He stated that the names should have been presented to the party's National Executive Committee prior to approval.
There is no way this can happen. Tuju has not complied with what the registrar of political parties Anne Nderitu said. He does not want to follow the law and we will deal with him accordingly," Kositany pronounced.
"NEC should have met, nominated those names and then announced them. What Tuju has done is bypass the NEC and illegally nominate people who cannot hold office because they are not NEC members," he alleged.
A section of leaders from DP Ruto's camp stated that they would not take the matter lightly and that they would be moving to court. Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa demanded that Tuju vacates office, as they seek a replacement.
"Tuju's DNA and all plans and schemes are not Jubilee, but purely ODM. His interest is to see Jubilee broken into pieces because he has no interest, brought no votes to Uhuru, and is acting with a lot of recklessness," Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro was quoted as saying.
The battle for control of the party depicts the ever-widening rift existent in Jubilee. The changes by Tuju, if upheld by the registrar of political parties will deal a major blow to the DP and his camp.
