Update: Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen has refuted claims that DP Ruto has defected from Jubilee Party.
"Ignore the rumours doing rounds. Jubilee Party is our party, our labour of love and visionary investment, whose fruits we look forward to enjoying. Jubilee Asili Centre is the meeting venue for members who have been denied access to our party office along Thika Road. Tuko Sote Pamoja!," Murkomen tweeted.
The Tangatanga Jubilee faction seems to have found a new meeting place just a day after the President’s camp hosted Wiper’s Kalonzo Musyoka and former governor Isaac Ruto of Chama Cha Mashinani, whose parties signed a cooperation agreement at Jubilee Party headquarters.
The ceremony that was overseen by Secretary-General Raphael Tuju and vice-chairman David Murathe, came against the backdrop of the ongoing tussle that saw some Jubilee MPs denied access to the party headquarters.
Senator Murkomen, who was the first casualty of the purge, said that the Jubilee Asili Centre was funded by party members who felt that for the last three years a few officials had disenfranchised them by denying them chance to meet at the party headquarters.
“We had a meeting with the DP at the Jubilee Asili Centre. It is a centre for all members, not parallel. It is the centre for Jubilee Party members who believe in the original idea of the party, including the implementation of the promises we gave to the people,” said Murkomen.
The 'politically homeless' MPs met DP Ruto at Jubilee Asili Centre barely a day after National Assembly Speaker Justin Muturi formally announced the discharge of all those de-whipped by the party.
"It is a centre for Jubilee Party members who believe in the original idea of the party, including the implementation of the promises we gave to the people," Murkomen stated while speaking with the Standard on Thursday, June 18.
The Jubilee Asili Centre, located on Makindu Road, off Riara Road in Nairobi’s Kilimani area, will obviously open a new battlefront with President Uhuru Kenyatta in the tussle for the control of Jubilee Party.
Murkomen added that the tribulations facing the section of MPs allied to DP Ruto had hindered their efforts to contribute towards the growth of the party.
"From the Jubilee Asili Centre. we will be advancing the original idea of Jubilee Party and its membership. We will periodically give updates to members and the country," he added.
Ruto's Director of Communication added that the 20 Jubilee MPs who met Ruto were directed to work towards implementing Jubilee manifesto that united the party in 2013 and 2017.
The Jubilee Asili Centre has reportedly been in operation for six months and was financed by the MPs aligned to Ruto's camp.
Sources at the meeting added that Ruto considered using the party to run for 2022 elections in case he may be denied a chance to run on Jubilee Party ticket.
Aldai MP Cornely Serem was quoted by the People Daily to have stated that they were considering registering the new breakaway outfit with a new name.
Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu stated that she had not yet received any intention of the new party registration.
"I had not received any notices by the time I was heading home from work," Nderitu stated.
