The Jubilee party has broken its silence for the first time following a worrying trend in which President Uhuru Kenyatta’s camp has been losing foot soldiers to William Ruto’s Tanga Tanga faction.
Jubilee secretary-general Raphael Tuju on Thursday, June 14, said the leaders from Mt Kenya who are ditching Uhuru’s camp for Tanga Tanga are insignificant to the party.
Tuju said he will not be shocked if more leaders cross over to Ruto’s Tanga Tanga political grouping, adding that those leaving have sensed danger in party primaries ahead of the crucial 2022 General Election.
“As a party, we have resolved that we will be subjecting our aspirants go through thorough checks so that we can have leaders who can stand firm,” he said as quoted by the Star Newspaper.
Tuju further maintained that the planned coalition between Jubilee and ODM party is in top gear despite criticism adding that the defections will not in any way affect their planned marriage with Raila’s outfit.
“The alliance talks are going on smoothly and as planned. For your information, we met this morning (Thursday) to continue with the same. Those who want to go should go,” Tuju said.
Tuju’s remarks come barely a day after Kiambu Woman Rep Gathoni Wamuchomna on Wednesday, June 23, switched her allegiance to DP Ruto’s Tanga Tanga wing.
“I have not left the Jubilee Party. That is the party that took me to Parliament. What I have done is that I have switched allegiance to William Ruto because that is where Kiambu people are,” she said.
Her defection was announced just hours after Nakuru Town East MP David Gikaria and Subukia’s Samuel Gachobe also decamped to the Tanga Tanga political faction that is synonymous with William Ruto’s camp..
After their exit, Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu warned the Jubilee party could lose more valuable players if urgent measures to salvage the ‘collapsing’ party are not instituted.
“As things stand I will not be surprised if we lose another one or two more valuable players,” he said.
