Powerful state officials want to ‘kill’ Jubilee party - Ex-MPs

As leadership wrangles in the former ruling party Jubilee continue to simmer, some party leaders in Kiambu county have sounded alarm over plans to ‘kill’ the political outfit.

The leaders, led by former MPs Jude Njomo (Kiambu) and Peter Mwathi (Limuru), allege that some powerful individuals in  government have hatched a plan to bring the party to its knees and eventually terminate it.

Jubilee is currently involved in a heated leadership row, with two factions claiming to be bona fide officials.

The faction led by nominated MP Sabina Chege and EALA MP Kanini Kega has already shifted allegiance to President William Ruto-led Kenya Kwanza, while the group led by former Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni has remained loyal to the Raila Odinga-led Azimio La Umoja coalition.

Already, a good number of MPs have since shifted loyalty to Ruto, cementing his ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition’s dominance in the bicameral Parliament.

Njomo and Mwathi claimed that the Jubilee has already laid down an elaborate strategy, including holding a series of grassroots meetings to invigorate the party in the Mt Kenya region, something that has not sat well with leaders in UDA.

Speaking after a mass service at Jesus Christ Compassion Ministry (JCM) Church in Ruiru, the leaders claimed that the wrangles in the party are being fanned by some powerful politicians in government.

“We know who is planning to kill the Jubilee party and deny the people of Mt Kenya the right to have a party for its political representation in the government. We are also aware of some deliberate efforts to make the region a one-party region, but we will not allow this to happen,” Mwathi said.

The former Limuru legislator said that they have already started a movement to marshal support and regain the party’s dominance in the region, adding that even elected leaders in other parties, including UDA, have expressed interest in joining and forming a formidable force to champion the interests of the region.

“Even some UDA elected leaders are calling us, urging us not to renege on our pursuit to strengthen our region’s party. They are willing to join us, but they fear being reprimanded by their leaders,” Mwathi said.  

The leaders also called out the Kenya Kwanza administration over unfulfilled election promises and the soaring cost of living.

They claimed that high taxation has added salt to the injury to already oppressed Kenyans.

The former legislators observed that the President William Ruto government backtracked on its promise to lower the cost of fuel.

“If he [Ruto] was truthful about lowering the cost of living for Kenyans, then he should lower taxes and start with lowering the fuel VAT to 8 per cent,” Njomo said.

Njomo also raised concerns over the enactment of punitive laws that are designed to further oppress Kenyans, citing the increment in land-related taxes.

Among the fees set to be increased include land registration fees that’s set to hike 100 times, the cost of official land search, which will double to Sh2,000, fees on registration of documents including deeds of indemnity, agreements, contracts, and trust deeds, which will rise up to Sh50,000.

“The government must end the sideshows of blaming the previous regime, which they were part and parcel of, and start addressing pertinent issues affecting Kenyans. The oppressive laws they are creating are paving the way and creating loopholes to loot public coffers,” Njomo said.

Jubilee deputy organising secretary Pauline Njoroge who accompanied the leaders, called on Mt Kenya region to unite and speak out on the issues affecting them.

“Let’s unite and speak out on all issues affecting us as a region and where we are being shortchanged, we will call out the responsible leaders. We made a mistake at the ballot in 2022, and it’s high time we unite so as not to repeat the same mistake again,” she said.