Deputy President William Ruto has rejected changes in the structural leadership of the Jubilee Party terming the move as fraudulent.
The DP on Friday, April 10, assured members of the Jubilee Party that the matter was under control and that he had taken necessary measures to halt the change.
"As Kenyans are focused on the Covid-19 pandemic, some shadowy characters are attempting to fraudulently institute illegal changes in officials of Jubilee party. As deputy leader, I have alerted the registrar of the fraud. Party members should know that the matter is being handled," DP Ruto stated.
The deputy president referenced a gazette notice by the registrar of public parties dated April 6, 2020, which indicated that the party had intended to change its leadership.
The notice showed that the party had replaced Fatuma Shukri, Pamela Mutu, and Veronica Maina at the National Management Committee with Lucy Nyawira Macharia, Marete Marungu, Walter Nyambati, Jane Nampaso, and James Waweru, however allowing for any disputes.
"Any person with written submissions concerning the intended change by the political party shall within seven days from the date herein, deposit them with the Registrar of Political Parties," the notice read in part.
Following DP Ruto's dismissal of the leadership changes, several leaders from Jubilee have since written to the registrar refuting the reshuffle as well.
National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale stated that as a senior official of the party, he could confirm that Jubilee had never held any meeting since 2017.
"It is instructive to note that as the third Senior most party official. I am aware there has never been any meeting of the organs of the party which I am a member of since 2017. I have also not been consulted by the Party Leader or Deputy Party Leader in the purported impugned changes of the party National Management Committee sent to your office," Duale stated.
"I am surprised to learn the contents of the gazette notice published on April 6, 2020, which purports to change the Jubilee party officials in the National Management Committee," he added, further arguing that the move subverted the constitution with regard to the administration of political parties.
Duale informed the registrar that the proposed changes were not sanctioned by any arm of the party that he was aware of.
Lang'ata Member of Parliament Nixon Kipkorir and Gatundu South's Moses Kuria have also written to the registrar opposing the changes.
"I submit that the proposed changes are not grounded in the party constitution as well as the principles enshrined in the Constitution of Kenya and as such should not be implemented by your good office,
"Such actions come at a time when the citizenry is looking up to the Kenyan leaders to set a good, honest and transparent example. I urge you to uphold these core principles by setting aside the above change and sending it back to the party for review," Korir stated.
