Uhuru to explain succession game plan at key meet

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s confidants have schemed to lock out rebellious delegates allied to DP William Ruto's camp from attending the crucial National Delegates Convention on November 30.

Uhuru, who has fallen out with Ruto, is also expected to use the occasion to put a strong case on why the ruling party will not be fielding a presidential candidate next year.

The President is expected to be retained as the Jubilee leader, handing him sweeping powers to play politics even after retirement.

Uhuru is also likely to, for the first time, explain to members why he irretrievably broke up with Ruto and why he would preside over the ouster of the DP as Jubilee's second in command.

The President who has signalled that he would back ODM boss Raila Odinga in the State House race is also expected to give members a clear direction.

"He will also use the occasion to pitch for the Jubilee-ODM coalition," a source familiar with the planning told the Star.

Nominated MP Maina Kamanda said their hope is that Uhuru will lay bare his succession plan.

"We hope the President will outline his succession plans during the NDC so that all members can now be in sync with his 2022 plans," Kamanda told the Star.

The Star has established that Uhuru's loyalists who are preparing for the NDC have rolled out an elaborate plan to vet afresh all the Jubilee Party delegates to weed out moles.

There are fears that should some delegates with questionable loyalty find their way into the venue—Kasarani gymnasium—they could try to bungle the summit.

Jubilee Joint Parliamentary Group Secretary Adan Keynan told the star that party rebels will not have an opportunity to attend the key meeting.

He said only bona fide and loyal members of Jubilee will be invited

“Those getting together are the ones who are loyal and committed members. Even morally, what business will they (rebels) have there? It is a moral issue,” the Eldas MP said.

"Those who have already left or expressed their intention to leave the party, have no business in Jubilee, this will be a Jubilee family affair.

“Jubilee is an institution, for that matter the ruling party. We have no problem dealing with delegates. We know who they are.” 

Political leaders at the ruling party have been tasked to take charge of the delegates lists so that in case of moles, they are replaced in good time “to avoid embarrassment.”

The party’s director of legal services was also tasked to check loopholes that may stage a court challenge against the planned meeting, if any.

The President, who is also the Jubilee leader, is expected to preside over the expulsion of Ruto as the party's second in command and outline how the outfit will approach the 2022 general election.

Ruto has been insisting he moved from Jubilee long ago and formed his United Democratic Alliance to run for president next year.

Kamanda, an influential ex-Starehe MP, told the Star that the NDC—being the highest decision-making organ and which meets after five years—will have a full in-tray.

"First the NDC will seek to bring all members together, unite the party and then craft our political future after governing for the last 10 years," he said.

Sources intimated that the date was settled upon by Uhuru himself, triggering a wave of excitement in the wobbly party amid revived hopes.

Some of Uhuru's allies were staring at a bleak future over the uncertainty that clouded Jubilee but they could now heave a sigh of relief.

Legally, the NDC has the mandate to reject or approve coalitions or alliances and must give the nod before party officials start the formalisation of any political pacts.

It is widely expected that the Jubilee NDC would give the green light for the making of a 2022 coalition that will bring on board ODM and some parties in the One Kenya Alliance.

Instructively, ODM is said to be planning a National Delegates Convention next month to ratify the pact with Jubilee and then formally nominate Raila.

The former prime minister has said he would make a landmark decision on his 2022 plans on December 9.

It is widely expected that he would throw his hat into the presidential ring for the fifth time.

Critically, the President's allies say there is a foolproof process to block Ruto allied delegates from the NDC.

Uhuru's stalwarts from the branches alongside the various regional directors have been tasked with the process of harmonising the lists of delegates and replace those who have pledged their loyalty to Ruto.

Notably, the party recently sacked over 70 directors and managers who were perceived to be sympathetic to Ruto in a grand housecleaning to steady the outfit.

The Star has learnt that party officials could splash millions of shillings to facilitate branding, market campaigns and grassroots delegates mobilisation.

A crucial meeting held last Thursday bringing together the National Management Committee and the Parliamentary caucus resolved that politicians loyal to the President will play an active role in the mobilisation.

It was resolved that the secretariat withdraws part of the Sh400 million in the accounts to fund the run-up to the NDC—buy party regalia among them T-shirts and caps for delegates.

Members also resolved that MPs will champion party activities in their respective areas and strong aspirants recruited in areas where members have defected to UDA.

Jubilee Secretary General Raphael Tuju in a notice published on  Monday invited party delegates to the NDC meeting.

According to the notice, the Kasarani meeting would review, formulate and approve all policies of the party as well as amend and ratify the party constitution.

The party’s rules and regulations will also be reviewed to ensure compliance with the Constitution, Political Parties Act, and the Elections Act.

“The party would also consider other matters referred to the NDC by the National Executive Committee or the National Governing Council,” the notice reads.

Ruto allies, who had pushed for the meeting for days before jumping ship to join UDA, will, however, not be invited to the much-awaited meeting.

Mumias East MP Ben Washiali, a key Ruto ally, said they wouldn’t be surprised if they are not invited to the meeting.

“If there is anyone to chase anyone, it is us who should have chased them out for supporting someone from a different party,” he told the Star.

-Edited by SKanyara