President Uhuru Kenyatta, former Prime minister and ODM leader Raila Odinga and KANU chairman Gideon Moi are set to team up and form what they therm as a government of national(excluding Ruto’s team) unity.
But, did former Ruto’s point-man former Kiambu governor Ferdinand Waititu know all these plans before anything was made public?
If you think you can wish away babayao, think twice. Babayao is a strategist. Babayao alienda huko mbele to wait for the government. Babayao is now in the ruling party & GOVERNMENT. Kwanza high table! pic.twitter.com/iu0RSQvrwQ
— Mohamed Wehliye, MBS (@WehliyeMohamed) May 10, 2020
A Jubilee Coalition Senate Parliamentary Group meeting set for this morning is set to come down hard on Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen (Elgeyo/Marakwet) and Majority Whip Susan Kihika (Nakuru).
The DP has also been invited to the meeting, but Kenyan Bulletin could not independently verify if he will attend.
“Mheshimiwa, I wish to invite you for a Jubilee Coalition, Senate Parliamentary Group meeting at State House, Nairobi, Monday May 11, 2020 at 8.30am. Please be punctual.”
It’s a fact DP @WilliamsRuto wasn’t consulted on — and didn’t know of — the Jubilee and KANU merger until it was done. A man with any pride would quit, and never look back @ahmednasirlaw @OleItumbi @kipmurkomen @DonaldBKipkorir @HonAdenDuale @AbdikadirMohami @KitaviM pic.twitter.com/9CCGi3sw22
— Prof Makau Mutua (@makaumutua) May 10, 2020
Last evening, reports indicated that KANU’s Samuel Poghisio is touted to replace Murkomen after Uasin Gishu Senator Margaret Kamar allegedly turned down the offer.
Similarly, Kihika’s deputy Murang’a Senator Irungu Kang’ata is reported to be favoured to replace her, while Nairobi Senator Johnstone Sakaja will deputise.
According to Murathe, Majority Leader Aden Duale will, however, be spared as he was effective in pushing for government agenda in the House.
“We do not care where Duale’s heart is politically, we agree that he has pushed effectively national government interests at the National Assembly, he has delivered on any assignment the President has given him in the House,” said Murathe.
Murkomen and Kihika belong to the Tangatanga wing of the Jubilee allied to DP Ruto. Talk of their replacement was highly insinuated as well might be executed if the affirmation by Jubilee Vice Chairman David Murathe is to see the light.
“How can you be given a job and you start fighting the one who gave you? Where on earth? Their removal has been long overdue. We need order and focus in the party,” Mr Murathe said yesterday.
JP Secretary General Raphael Tuju claimed the President as the party leader has convened the meeting to deal with issues of Nairobi County which are threatening to get out of hand.
“The issue of Nairobi City County is very pertinent to the President. He is very particular on finding a solution. The situation is dire. However, legislators can raise any issues they have during the meeting,” Tuju told The Standard.
Jubilee Deputy Secretary Caleb Kositany, an ally of the DP, said the fact that the President sent an invite without circulating the agenda pointed to something sinister.
“There cannot be any other reason for the meeting other than removing Murkomen and Kihika. The gloves are off. The fact that they did not circulate the agenda means they want to play monkey business. This is going to have repercussion on the party,” Mr Kositany said.
While the Jubilee party Kieleweke team allied to President Kenyatta is warming up to this arrangement, DP Ruto and his wing in Jubilee is not in support of the arrangement, which is meant to sideline him.
The plans for a unity government were preceded with the fight to control Jubilee Party, pitting President Kenyatta’s Kieleweke and DP Ruto’s Tangatanga camps.
The Jubilee-ODM-KANU coalition talks picked momentum yester evening when Jubilee Party vice-chairman David Murathe confirmed that president Kenyatta will be meeting Jubilee and KANU Senators to discuss the coalition matter.
It has emerged that Baringo Senator Gideon Moi is likely to replace his Elgeyo Marakwet counterpart Kipchumba Murkomen as the senate majority leader, something the president is said to be keen to see through in the meeting.
Ruto’s Counterplan
Looks like kesho H.E UHURU will tell MY party JUBILEE the obvious…that he is the BOSS…BABA na MAMA…order…order…order…
— Ahmednasir Abdullahi SC (@ahmednasirlaw) May 10, 2020
As Gideon Moi’s KANU, Raila Odinga’s ODM and partially Uhuru’s Jubilee Parties gear up for a post-poll coalition, it has emerged that Musalia Mudavadi’s Amani National Congress, Moses Wetangula’s FORD Kenya and Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper Parties are in talks with Deputy President William Ruto for a possible counter-coalition.
Even though the latest development has left the DP Ruto’s camp in a tight spot he is said to be preparing to counter the Jubilee-ODM-KANU coalition by forming a strong opposition as he prepares for the 2022 political duel with Mr Odinga.
Former Chief Justice Willy Mutunga has hinted at the emergence of the new political outfit that will bring together Musalia Mudavadi, Kalonzo Musyoka and Moses Wetangula, the leaders of ANC, Wiper and Ford Kenya respectively.
“Counsel, are you and the grand mullar by any chance drafting the coalition agreement between Jubilee and ODM? The rich grapevine has it that Wiper, ANC and Ford Kenya and its surviving siblings are lining up to complete this ethnic baronial consensus with Dr Ruto,” Mr Mutunga tweeted on Sunday May 10, 2020. He was responding to lawyer Donald Kipkorir’s tweet on President Kenyatta’s meeting with senators on Monday.
Buoyed by the temporary victory, Jubilee Deputy Secretary-General and Ruto lead spear-carrier, Soy MP Caleb Kositany, boasted his side has the majority and will be proceeding to the next move to “take over the party”.
Hon @JunetMohamed you are LYING. The problem is the @Senate_KE Standing orders are in simple Englush and available Online. You need 50+1 of all Senators of the said Party / Coalition. #SystemYaFacts – Applies for Majority and Minority Positions. pic.twitter.com/QH0WfuG1J4
— -Dennis Itumbi (@OleItumbi) May 10, 2020
Jubilee has 34 senators, 24 elected, 10 nominated and one independent member.
For weeks now, there has been speculation that Murkomen and Kihika are on the chopping board. Recently, he ganged up with Kihika, Gatundundu South MP Moses Kuria and an economist currently, the Member of Parliament for Kiharu Constituency, Ndindi Nyoro to bash the government and the NMS for demolishing houses in Kariobangi.
