Deputy President William Ruto's ten-day window to wrestle Jubilee Party out of President Uhuru Kenyatta's grasp has expired.
This coming at a time when President Uhuru Kenyatta purge on Ruto's allies was expected to move to the National Assembly with Senate Deputy Speaker Kithure Kindike also on the chopping board.
In a report by the Standard on Tuesday, May 19, Jubilee Secretary-General Raphael Tuju confirmed that the legal window period issued to Ruto to lodge complaints had expired.
Ruto and his allies were against changes made at the National Management Committee (NMC) by Kenyatta. The Head of State appointed five new members against Ruto's wish.
"For all intents and purposes, the five are now members of the NMC because the party did not get any complaints within the 14 days," Tuju stated.
Article 20 (2) of the reviewed Political Parties Act of 2017 stipulates that upon expiry of 14 days from the date of publication, a political party may, after taking into account any representations received from the public under subsection (1) and (2), effect the change or alteration in accordance with its constitution and rules.
The NMC is regarded as key to shaping the 2022 elections and any changes within Jubilee. This, as speculated by some, could mean that Ruto can be locked out of running for the presidency under a Jubilee ticket.
The other option Ruto was heading to court, which also backfired, as the political parties tribunal threw out his petition.
"The Tribunal says the complaint is premature and it does not have jurisdiction on premature complaints,” Tuju stated on May 16.
Kenyatta now has Jubilee under his control after the changes in the NMC and the National Executive Committee (NEC). Changes in NEC were effected after Senator Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo Marakwet) and his Nakuru counterpart Susan Kihika were kicked out of Senate Majority Leader and Majority Chief Whip positions.
The two allies of DP Ruto who were members of the NEC were replaced by new Senate Majority Leader, Senator Samuel Phogisio (West Pokot) and Majority Whip Irungu Kang'ata (Murang'a Senator).
