The recent inroads by Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in his former Jubilee Party have seen a plot hatched to kick out Jubilee Party Deputy National Chairperson David Murathe and Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni.
In what has been Gachagua’s rallying call to have Jubilee MPs join the government. It is alleged that the impending resignation of former President Uhuru Kenyatta as party leader has contributed to the move.
On January 20, Gachagua met Jubilee MPs led by the Deputy Minority Whip Sabina Chege and EALA lawmaker Kanini Kega in a bid to woo them to support President William Ruto’s government with the exception of Kioni and Murathe.
Kioni and Murathe have been critical of Ruto's government with the former questioning the legitimacy of William Ruto as President at the same time alluding that Azimio Leader Raila Odinga won the 2022 general elections.
On January 18, Kioni claimed that Raila won the August 9 elections with 8,170,355 votes representing 57.53 per cent of the votes cast.
He claimed that an analysis of the votes by Vanguard Africa found that Ruto on the other hand got 5,915,973 votes translating to 41.66 per cent of the total ballots cast.
"Those whose votes were mostly stolen are people from Mt Kenya. We know Chebukati stated that Raila got 800,000 in this region but the truth of the matter is the number of votes Raila got, and we are yet to finish counting, is 2,607, 957," Kioni revealed.
Equally, several Jubilee MPs have shown their willingness to work with the government with Kanini Kega recently asking leaders in the Central region to recognise Gachagua as the senior leader in the region.
Sabina Chege too stated that she was ready to work with and support President Ruto’s government.
She noted that the meeting between President Ruto and Jubilee's elected leaders on January 23, proved that she respected the President and his Deputy, Rigathi Gachagua.
"For now we only have one leader as Mount Kenya people and that's Rigathi Gachagua and we have to support him fully."
"When we support Gachagua from the ground then he will be much respected even up there. You all know I was an Azimio diehard but just as I respect leadership, I also respect the decisions you made through your votes and that's why you saw me in State House the other day," she
Exercise in Futility
However, political Analyst Martin Andati has called bluff on the intent to dethrone Uhuru and the party leadership.
Andati speaking to Kenyans.co.ke noted that Kenyatta had not shown any signs of resigning as party leader of Jubilee.
“Uhuru has not shown any signs that he will resign. Kenya Kwanza has been pushing for him to retire with attached perks, but Uhuru can survive without the benefits,” he noted.
“The government's intention is to weaken Jubilee Party by bringing on board strong characters like Sabina who have already shown signs of defection. Kanini has been all over asking for Gachagua to be recognised,” he added.
On whether this would be a threat to Ruto, Andati stated that Gachagua had no support that could threaten the President.
“Gachagua cannot be a threat to Ruto. He is scared of Musalia. He cannot be a threat,” he observed.
It remains to be seen if former President Uhuru Kenyatta will resign as Jubilee party leader given that he has been busy overseeing the peace process in DR Congo between M23 rebel forces and the government.
In February 2022 Jubilee Party officially unveiled its new leadership hierarchy following its National Delegates Convention (NDC).
Uhuru Kenyatta was retained as the party’s leader for another 5-year term, while former Ndaragwa Member of Parliament Jeremiah Kioni was been named the Secretary-General.
Kioni would be deputised by former Cherangany MP Joshua Kutuny.
Former Kitutu Chache MP Jimmy Angwenyi, alongside Kinoti Gatobu, Naomi Shabaan and Peter Mositet were named as Deputy Party Leaders in charge of Strategy, Operations, Outreach and Programmes respectively.
David Murathe would continue in his role as Deputy Chairperson under National Chairperson Nelson Dzuya, while Adan Keynan and Kagwe Gichohi were named the party’s Parliamentary Secretary and National Treasurer respectively.
