The ruling Jubilee Party has made a u-turn and backtracked on its position to issue direct tickets to its aspirants after it gave a ticket to Jubilee point-man in the western region, Governor Kenneth Lusaka.
Governor Lusaka was on Wednesday issued the ticket together with five other aspirants from the region due to lack of competitors in the various posts while others withdrew or decamped.
Speaking to the press, Mumias East MP Benjamin Washiali stated that Jubilee had shifted its focus from the nomination exercise and was eyeing the August General Election.
“We want to hold our nominations in a peaceful environment to guarantee all aspirants a transparent and credible exercise,” stated Washiali.
The move comes amidst a strong reaction from President Uhuru Kenyatta who had blasted a similar exercise by the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party for issuing direct nomination certificates.
Speaking in Kiambu, President Uhuru had vehemently claimed that ODM was awarding direct certificates to politicians with money.
“Our colleagues, as we speak, are giving out certificates. They are seated in offices and deciding this place is for this candidate and that place for that candidate. It means they have no agenda for the ordinary person,” claimed Uhuru.
He alleged that there was a catch in ODM's move to award governors Hassan Joho (Mombasa), Wycliffe Oparanya (Kakamega), Amason Kingi (Kilifi) and Evans Kidero (Nairobi), direct tickets.
Uhuru had pointed out that ODM was more focused on its own coffers than the average mwananchi’s welfare and categorically declared that the Jubilee Party would not hand out direct tickets.
He further added that its nomination primaries would be free and fair.
Those awarded tickets by Jubilee alongside Governor Kenneth Lusaka were, Dan Wanyama (Webuye West), John Waluke (Sirisia), former ODM national youth leader Rashid Mohammed and Kakamega gubernatorial aspirant Mabel Muruli.
