The highly anticipated removal of Deputy President William Ruto as Jubilee party deputy leader failed to take place as recommended by the party’s National Management Committee.
Jubilee Party Vice Chairman David Murathe said the decision has been put on hold to allow for mourning of late Tanzania president John Pombe Magufuli.
“We have put everything on ice in honour of (John Pombe) Magufuli and out of respect for our partnership with Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM). Everything is on hold until we finish mourning Magufuli,” said Murathe on Monday.
The outspoken Murathe, who never hides his disdain for Ruto, insisted the plan to kick the deputy president from Jubilee Party leadership as proposed by the National Management Committee (NMC) is final.
The NMC had passed the resolution last week which was to be ratified, amended, or dismissed by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) chaired by President Uhuru Kenyatta
William Ruto’s allies have however dismissed the plan arguing Ruto’s position is protected by the party constitution which states that president and deputy president shall automatically become the party’s leader and deputy leader respectively.
They also claimed only the party’s National Delegate Committee (NDC) can make such a decision to remove Ruto from the position.
“The National Management Committee has no powers to remove the DP (Ruto). That decision can only be done by the National Delegates Committee (NDC). Even NEC, chaired by Uhuru has no such powers,” said Nandi Senator last week.
Murathe however insists Ruto shall be removed from the party leadership even though he can remain deputy president, a position he can only be removed from through an impeachment motion.
He accused Ruto of going against his party’s ideals and associating himself with United Democratic Alliance.
