Head of the Secretariat Raphael Tuju warned those decamping from Jubilee to parties assumed to be affiliated to it, will meet its candidates on the ballot as the party does not have such an agreement with the so called ‘friendly’ parties/MOSES MUOKI
NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 22 – The Jubilee Party on Wednesday said it had not entered into any form of agreement with other parties that it would not field candidates during the party primaries to give way to ‘affiliate’ parties.
Head of the Secretariat Raphael Tuju warned those decamping from Jubilee to parties assumed to be affiliated to it, will meet its candidates on the ballot as the party does not have such an agreement with the so called ‘friendly’ parties.
“There are those leaving Jubilee for other parties and then they start peddling lies that we have an association with those parties I want to categorically say we don’t have a memorandum with any other party so those moving to those parties, they should wait for us there because Jubilee will field its own candidate,” he warned.
According to Tuju, the party was articulate when it dissolved all affiliate parties who are all under one umbrella of Jubilee.
He said decamping to other parties did not come as a surprise because those moving were worried that they would lose at the party primaries level.
Over recent weeks, Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua has received aspirants who had defected from the Jubilee Party over claims of unfair nominations during the expected primaries but us categorical they will support President Uhuru Kenyatta’s re-election in the August General Election.
Mutua’s Maendeleo Chap Chap Party has so far received Francis Matanka from Tharaka Nithi County, Dr Kilemi Mwiria, Meru County, Embu County Senator Lenny Kivuti and Nominated Senator Emma Mbura.
Tuju reminded Jubilee candidates that the nominations will be free and fair, a motive that he said had motivated the party to seek the services of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
The meeting between Jubilee and the IEBC is slated for next Tuesday where each side will nominate three representatives to discuss the request as anchored in Article 88 (4) of the Constitution.
READ: IEBC, Jubilee name team to draft primaries rules
He maintained that the party had no preferred candidates and distanced it from allegations that it had issued nomination certificates to some candidates.
According to him, the party had not yet agreed on the nomination method or rules which were yet to be discussed during Tuesday’s meeting with IEBC.
Wednesday’s press conference emanated from a meeting held by the National Executive Committee on Tuesday under the chairmanship of the party leader, President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The NEC further endorsed a list of proposed members of the National Elections Board which will be forwarded to the IEBC as required by law.
READ: Key dates ahead of August General Election
During the NEC meeting, the officials further agreed to continue working on its nomination rules to ensure its list is submitted to the electoral commission on time.
About The Author
