Jubilee’s National Management Committee (NMC) has removed Deputy President William Ruto as the party’s deputy leader.
NMC which made the decision on Monday, March 15, has since forwarded its decision to the National Executive Council (NEC) which is chaired by the president and whose decision will be final.
Following NMC’s decision, Ruto’s fate now lies with the president who is the party leader.
President Uhuru Kenyatta’s allies in Jubilee have accused Ruto of sabotaging Jubilee's agenda and associating with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party, which has fielded candidates against Jubilee's in some by-elections.
Jubilee Secretary General Raphael Tuju while speaking to The Standard said that the NMC had resolved to fire Ruto as the deputy party leader.
“The NMC discussed the matter and resolved to remove the DP as per the party constitution. The matter is active, we have the recommendations of NMC and now only waiting for the party leader to convene a NEC meeting to deliberate on the matter,” said Tuju.
Tuju further said that President Uhuru could either call for a meeting with NEC or delegate the matter to be decided after his approval.
NMC is Jubilee’s second most powerful organ whose mandate is to set agendas for the NEC.
The relationship between the president and his deputy has worsened with Ruto accusing ODM party leader Raila Odinga of interfering with Jubilee’s agenda.
Uhuru and Ruto have not been reading from the same script on the proposed BBI changes to the constitution. While the president is rooting for the amendment of the constitution, Ruto has constantly said that the changes will not benefit ordinary Kenyans in any way.
"If you are praising it (government) stay in, if you are dissatisfied, get out," Uhuru has said on several occasions in reference to Ruto and his allies.
Ruto’s affiliates in the Jubilee party have already been kicked out with Jubilee saying that it was dealing with individuals who have shown party disloyalty.
Former National Assembly Majority Aden Duale and his counterpart at the Senate, Irungu Kangata were some of the MPs axed from their party positions.
The latest to face Jubilee’s wrath was Deputy Secretary-General Caleb Kositany was shown the door on March 1.
