Jubilee parties form one outfit

All Jubilee coalition affiliate parties have reached a deal to fold up and form a single party on which President Uhuru Kenyatta would seek re-election next year.

A steering committee formed by the coalition to merge the parties on Monday announced that they had agreed to dissolve the outfits and join Jubilee Party (JP), which is awaiting registration.

Announcing the deal at Hotel La Mada in Nairobi, the co-chairman of the committee, Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi, said all the members of the new party would support President Kenyatta’s re-election next year and Deputy President William Ruto’s expected presidential bid in 2022.

“We have a deal. All the affiliate parties of Jubilee are going to merge into one strong mass party and that party is the Jubilee Party. It is not yet registered but we are in the process of registering it,” said Mr Murungi.

He added: “Come 2017 all the leaders and their members will support President Uhuru Kenyatta for the second term as the President of this country. We are also going to support the Deputy President William Ruto for the 2022 General Election to be the President of this country. We are talking about two elections and beyond.”

The coalition has been pushing for a single party to firm their support base, although it has faced opposition from some governors.

Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto and his Meru counterpart Peter Munya, both elected under the Jubilee coalition, have been vocal against the collapsing of parties into one and have refused to join JP.

OFF SHOOTS

Governor Ruto has already formed the Mashinani Development Party while Mr Munya is expected to reveal his party this week.

However, Dr Noah Wekesa, the co-chairman of the steering committee, said they wanted a party that would unite all Kenyans. 

“We want a merger that will last several generations, over 100 years. We need a party to unite Kenyans. We need a party that will do away with regionalism, tribalism and briefcase political parties. You cannot be a national leader if you belong to a regional party,” he said.

The committee launched a Jubilee Party publication that outlines its structures and how it would conduct its nominations for various seats next year.

“We have had a successful meeting in Nairobi. We will do similar meetings in all counties. We decided to begin in Nairobi because of its importance and size,” Dr Wekesa added.

The party will conduct similar meetings in the 47 counties in order to popularise it over the coming weeks.