Jubilee Party Secretary-General Raphael Tuju on Monday, November 1, confirmed that President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM party leader Raila Odinga were working on a coalition deal.
While addressing journalists at the party headquarters in Parklands, Nairobi, Tuju revealed that they were ongoing discussions between the two leaders, adding that some of the party officials had also engaged in similar talks.
The SG went ahead to state that the merger of the two parties was not realistic at the moment affirming that the party was focused on forming coalitions.
"The discussions with ODM are ongoing. There are discussions taking place at our level and there those which are done at the level of the two-party leaders,"
"We have never discussed a merger in our meetings, the only thing that we have discussed are coalitions," he affirmed.
However, the SG was cagey when asked to disclose further details on the coalition talks arguing that handshake partners were better placed to give more details on the coalition talks.
"It is beyond my paygrade to divulge to you anything that has come out of the meeting between the two party leaders," he argued.
Tuju’s statements barely come a few days after the Registrar of Political Parties confirmed the reservation of the name Azimio La Umoja in a letter to Raila’s right-hand man and Suna East legislator, Junet Mohamed.
At the same presser, Tuju also addressed speculations of his ouster stating that he was not worried about his position.
"This is a political office and I would be a very worried person if nobody expressed dissatisfaction with my work. I would be worried if nobody was hitting me every other day because that would mean that the position of the SG is not important,"
"I welcome any criticism, it comes with the territory and I am ready to live with it," the SG addressed.
He added that the party was in the process of organizing a National Delegates Conference (NDC) which will deliberate on a raft of issues affecting the party including the potential coalition agreement between Uhuru and Raila
“The NDC is the highest party organ and whatever it decides prevails. The rule is that we should give a notice of 21 days and we will look at the schedule of the party leader (Uhuru). There will be comparing of notes with his diary then we will announce the date of the NDC,” he stated.
During the press conference, the SG was accompanied by party officials including David Murathe and some members of parliament from the ruling party.
