NAIROBI, Kenya, Feb 3 — The Jubilee Party is set to hold its much-awaited National Delegates Conference (NDC) on February 25 and 26.
The party’s Secretary-General Raphael Tuju issued a notice on Thursday convening the NDC that will be held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) in Nairobi.
The notice stated that the agenda of the NDC shall be to review, formulate and/or approve all policies of the party.
Also to be considered at the NDC is the newly proposed seal, symbol and flag of the party
The ruling party has remained largely divided with numerous ‘defections’ including that of its Deputy Party leader William Ruto who fell out with the party leader President Uhuru Kenyatta and formed the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) which he plans to use in seeking the presidency in the 2022 presidential election.
Jubilee’s NDC has been among highly anticipated political events with indications that the governing party cpould formally kick out DP Ruto and his allies for criticizing the government and the party from within.
On January 24, Jubilee Vice Chairperson David Murathe said the party will endorse Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) leader Raila Odinga as its preferred Presidential candidate in the August 9 presidential election.
Speaking during a meeting between Odinga and leaders from Murang’a, Murathe indicated that this is due to the fact the Jubilee does not have its own presidential candidate.
“We will hold a National Delegates Conference where you all know that our party leader is President Uhuru Kenyatta. At that NDC, we shall ask our delegates to pass a resolution that our Presidential candidate be Raila Amollo Odinga under the Azimio La Umoja Movement,” he stated.
Jubilee had in November 2021 postponed its NDC citing unavailability of President Kenyatta, the party leader, who was scheduled to deliver the State of the Nation Address in Parliament.
Ruto is Jubilee’s Deputy Party Leader, but he has been marketing and campaigning under his United Democratic Alliance, an outfit he unveiled after the ruling party declared him persona non grata.
On Tuesday, six legislators allied to DP Ruto were formally ejected from their respective committees in yet another purge targeting UDA-allied members.
The ejection of lawmakers in the last session by the National Assembly before the August 9 General Election targeted UDA-allied members serving as committee chairpersons and vice-chairpersons.
Those dewhipped include Katoo ole Metito (Kajiado South MP) who is the Chairperson of the Defence and Foreign Relations Committee and Willliam Kisang (Marakwet West) who chaired the ICT Committee.
Others expelled include David Gikaria (Nakuru Town East), who steers the Energy Committee; Kareke Mbiuki (Maara), who is in charge of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee; Catherine Waruguru (Laikipia), the Vice Chair in the Agricultural and Livestock Committee and Ali Wario (Bura) who has been discharged from the Select Committee on Regional Integration, where he also served as the Chairperson.
Speaker of the National Assembly Justin Muturi said the legislators stand ejected and directed the Clerk of the House Michael Sialai to ensure the positions are filled.
