A leaked video has emerged showing Jubilee Secretary General Raphael Tuju holding a meeting with a group of politicians at the basement of the party headquarters in Nairobi.
Reports indicated that Tuju had invited Jubilee MCAs from Baringo County to brief them on the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI) and the Constitutional Amendment Bill.
Although the meeting was meant to be confidential, with members screened and restricted from carrying recording devices, one of the leaders present was still able to sneak in with one.
According to the leaked footage, an MCA is heard tolling off Tuju over the internal wrangles affecting the party and the perceived exclusion of some leaders.
“When did you sit and discuss the party position? Did you call the Deputy President or the Deputy Secretary-General? Your message is similar to the one which Senator Gideon Moi sent to us on WhatsApp, which seems as though you are taking instructions from an external source,” the politicians ranted as Tuju gestured to him to go on and whispered “Fungua roho”.
“I know you are just a messenger but please concentrate on your recovery and raising your family, politics is going to destroy you. Tell your bosses to let you rest,” the MCA concluded.
When Tuju rose to speak, he reminded the leaders that at his age, he had been through the dirty trenches of politics. He recalled that his rural home had been under siege by rival supporters for prolonged periods.
“Only after the handshake was my mother safe at home. My family could not dare get out of the compound or risk being attacked,” he spoke emphasising the importance of the handshake and underscoring his determination.
Addressing the recent expulsion of six nominated senators, Tuju stated that the party had held disciplinary hearings, where the senators were given a chance to defend themselves, but the party constitution had prevailed.
He also pointed out the irony that ousted Senate Majority Whip Irungu Kang'ata was the one who prosecuted the senators at the hearing.
Speaking about the main agenda for the meeting, Tuju emphasised the importance of the Jubilee MCAs to vote in favour of the BBI document in the house.
“I wanted to meet only the nominated MCAs, but thought it wise to call even elected Jubilee members. Elected members have the mandate of the people by nominated members have no choice, but to support the party position, because they answer to the party,” he reiterated.
The Jubilee party boss narrated two probable scenarios which the MCAs would find themselves in, depending on whether or not they pass the BBI document.
“If Baringo passes the BBI, nobody will bother looking at the vote records, but if the assembly rejects the document, it is likely officials will be sent to conduct an analysis of how the voting was conducted. If the party finds that some MCAs violated the party constitution, then they are likely to be disciplined,” the Cabinet Secretary explained.
Tuju added that those who would lose their seats would be tied up in court cases which would be expensive for them to undertake.
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