Jubilee Secretary-General Raphael Tuju has disclosed President Uhuru Kenyatta's next move in the purge against Deputy President William Ruto's allies.
In a report by Daily Nation on Wednesday, May 13, Tuju confirmed that the chopping board was heading to the National Assembly.
This comes a day after Ruto's allies in the Senate, Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo-Marakwet) and Susan Kihika (Nakuru) were axed as Senate Majority Leader and Majority Whip respectively.
"Yes, it is headed there, but we are still monitoring the behaviour of the leaders. We will not tolerate deviant behaviour," Tuju stated.
"The party is cleaning up, and you can't implement the Jubilee agenda with hostile leadership. The National Assembly purge is coming. We will de-whip the disloyal members and expel nominated MPs who didn't respect the summons by the party leader as that amounts to gross insubordination," Jubilee Vice-Chairman David Murathe added.
The leaders put in the spotlight are Kikuyu MP, Kimani Ichungwah (Budget and Appropriations Committee), Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali (Majority Whip) and Nominated MP Cecily Mbarire (Deputy Majority Chief Whip).
Garissa Town MP Aden Duale (Majority Leader) may escape the purge as he has been described to be lukewarm, having never declared his stance, whether he is pro-Uhuru or pro-Ruto.
Most of Ruto's allies have gone low-key, with a number insisting that they are waiting for the political storm to cool down.
Washiali and Ichungwah have been leading the onslaught against Kenyatta in the National Assembly, with the Bungoma East MP teaming up with former Kakamega Senator Boni Khalwale to lead parallel Building Bridges Initiative rallies in early 2020.
Ichungwah, on his end, is bestowed one of the highest powers in Parliament, as the committee he chairs oversees all budget approvals and implementation.
Article 13 of the Jubilee constitution states that disciplinary action shall be instituted against a member in case of disloyalty to the party and failure, refusal or neglect to carry out directives or institutions of the Party.
Nafula Kisiangani, a political analyst and development practitioner poked holes at the Executive's decision to infiltrate the National Assembly, arguing that the President should respect the independence of the Parliament.
"The Executive is overstepping and this is something I do not respect. The Parliament is sovereign and judging on how Kenyatta wants to crack the whip in it, it's ability to conduct oversight on the Executive would be affected. Kenya does not have an opposition and we are relying on Parliament to defend Kenyans, but the legislators are afraid to speak or criticise for fear of being victimised.
"As Kenyans, we are happily cheering on not knowing what lies ahead in future. I don't believe we are heading in the right direction," the analyst opined while speaking with Kenyans.co.ke.
