How Jubilee is Tactfully 'Poaching' Opposition Leaders

The Jubilee coalition has seemingly embarked on a new strategy to entice Opposition leaders into joining its camp. 

In separate incidents that were put in the public domain on Wednesday, Jubilee legislators extended olive branches to two Opposition MPs who had earlier been de-whipped by their parties - Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and Wiper movement.

In a letter addressed to the Majority Whip, Katoo Ole Mitito, TNA chairman Johnson Sakaja relinquished his membership in the Parliamentary Finance Committee and requested the appointment of Mwingi MP John Munuve.

In 2015, Munuve was abandoned by his Wiper party following claims by members that he was a Jubilee mole.

Mr Sakaja regretted Munuve's punishment stating that: “It is instructive to note that recently, despite his capabilities as a member, Hon Munuve was de-whipped by his party, the Wiper Democratic Movement. This has denied this House and nation the competent services of Hon Munuve. It has also denied the people of Mwingi North vital representation in parliamentary committees”.

At the same time, Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria also vacated his position in the Parliamentary Energy and ICT Committee and proposed Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung'aro to replace him. 

“As my replacement, I would kindly request you to appoint the Hon MP for Kilifi North Gideon Mung'aro, who is equally capable,” said Kuria.

Mung'aro had earlier announced that he had broken ties with ODM and would not defend his seat with the party's ticket come next year's elections. 

Mr Mung’aro fell out with the Opposition early in the year after he was unceremoniously kicked out of ODM’s minority chief whip position and subsequently lost the Coast Parliamentary Group (CPG) chairmanship to Kaloleni MP Gunga Mwinga.