The Jubilee National Management Committee has recommended to the party’s executive council to remove Deputy President William Ruto as the deputy party leader. This comes a day after the Deputy President accompanied by at least 38 MPs stormed the party headquarters and held a meeting, leading many to see it as a power grab. Speaking to the press on Friday, Jubilee secretary general Raphael Tuju said the NMS has recommended his removal after he opened Jubilee Asili offices reserved for him and his allies until the time when Jubilee Asili will be discussed at the NEC.
He said the Jubilee party headquarters will not be allowed to become the theatre of conflict and confrontation by different factions that emerge in the party, and Ruto won’t use it for his political reasons, “The deputy party leader as a self declared Presidential candidate of 2022 will not be allowed to use the party headquarter as a centre of operationalization of his own campaign.” He also noted that the DP won’t use the party platform to make certain statements and declarations, calling out his hustler politics slogan, “It’s no longer tenable for the Deputy President to use the party platform including statements from the party headquarters to advance his divisive so called hustler politics that are counter to the party and the President’s platform of uniting the country, fighting against corruption and the agenda four items,” said Tuju.
After their Thursday meeting, however, Jubilee leaders allied to DP Ruto denied claims of a possible coup, “There was no coup. How can you do a coup in your own home?” posed Meru Senator Mithika Linturi, “Our party is our party and we have every reason to consult on matters that help in developing our party. The Jubilee party intrigues are becoming more tense at a time when President Uhuru Kenyatta is in France on an official visit.
