Jubilee Party on Wednesday, September 23, announced that it would not field a candidate for the Msambweni parliamentary by-election, which fell vacant after the death of ODM legislator Suleiman Ramadhan Dori.
Through a statement to newsrooms, the party indicated that it had received numerous enquiries from potential aspirants but opted not to front any candidate.
"The decision not to engage in the contest is informed by the facts prevailing at the moment when we face challenges like the recent advisory by the Chief Justice that Parliament should be dissolved," reads the statement in part.
The statement, signed by secretary-general Raphael Tuju, indicated that there were serious constitutional matters to deal with that would require sobriety to deal with.
In addition, Tuju stated that the party had also considered the coopration between Jubilee and ODM in Parliament.
"Given that this was an ODM seat, the decision has been made that Jubilee will not field a candidate in the interest of the bigger picture," reads an excerpt from the statement.
Further, Tuju stated that the announcement had been made in time so that aspirants who had interest in a Jubilee ticket could find other pathways to run for the seat.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, constitutional lawyer Haron Ndubi, explained that with the by-election dated December 15, 2020, and outside of the 21-days period that the president has to dissolve Parliament, it would be considered invalid.
"If Parliament is dissolved, then the by-election becomes void because there will be no purpose. The by-election is supposed to fill the vacancy in Parliament and if the president dissolves the current Parliament, then there will be no need for a by-election, they would have to wait for the new election following the dissolution," he stated.
Earlier, the party had asked members of the party interested in the Msambweni Constituency, Kahawa Wendani, Lakeview, Kisumu North, Wundayi/Mbale and Dabaso in Kiambu, Nakuru, Kisumu, Taita Taveta and Kilifi County legislative seats to submit their applications.
In the statement, the party indicated that the Jubilee Party Director of Elections would receive the applications before Thursday 24, September.
Their statement came days after the Orange Democratic Movement Party issued a statement on five upcoming by-elections including that of Msambweni.
