• Chege said that to save the party from drowning, they agreed to work with the Ruto-led Kenya Kwanza Coalition.
• “We are not in Kenya Kwanza coalition but we decided to go out there, reach out to the ruling coalition to save Jubilee.”
Image: FILE
On February 8, 2023, a section of Jubilee MPs met with President William Ruto at State House.
The meeting raised eyebrows, considering it was the former ruling party whose leader was Former President Uhuru Kenyatta, who did not support Ruto's presidency in the August 2022 elections.
From the meeting, the legislators led by EALA MP Kanini Kega and nominated MP Sabina Chege pledged to work and support the Kenya Kwanza government.
During an interview on Tuesday at Spice FM, Sabina Chege who is the former Woman Representative for Murang'a County, said Jubilee has not joined the Kenya Kwanza Coalition despite supporting it.
Chege said that to save the party from drowning, they agreed to work with the Ruto-led Kenya Kwanza Coalition.
“We are not in Kenya Kwanza coalition but we made a decision to go out there, reach out to the ruling coalition to save Jubilee,” Chege said.
“The conversation was not about Jubilee wanting to join Kenya Kwanza but about defending Jubilee members and asking for a chance to participate in building the government and not just criticising it. Jubilee will remain as an independent party that criticises and supports the government where possible."
Going further, the MP gave more reasons why they decided to work with Kenya Kwanza.
She claimed that the Jubilee party had been sidelined in Azimio, and they saw it best to work with the government to gain influence and be part of decision-making.
“Sometimes even your decision and what you need to contribute becomes hard if you are on the other side. But when you are part of the team it becomes easier to say things are not going right," Chege said.
"And this is not for the sake of you to be seen as opposition. We wanted some sort of cooperation and that is what we got."
Following the State House meeting in February, more Jubilee MPs pledged to work with the government, causing a division in the party.
This was despite Jubilee being a member of Azimio which is led by opposition chief Raila Odinga.
As a result, On May 22, 2o23 former President summoned Jubilee delegates for a special NDC at the Kenya International Convention Centre which was canceled by Kega.
It was then that EALA MP Kanini Kega and Nominated MP Sabina Chege were expelled as Jubilee lined up new National Executive Committee (NEC) members.
Embattled Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni said the new members will replace rebel members who have joined the Kenya Kwanza coalition.
They included Jamleck Kamau (national director of elections), Maison Leshoomo (national women’s league chairperson), Agnes Thumbi (national youth league leader) and Nderitu Mureithi (business council leader).
Other nominated members were Beatrice Gabo (deputy party leader strategy), Maoka Maore (deputy party leader operations), David Manje (deputy party leader operations), Kados Muiruri (deputy party leader outreach), Saitoti Torome (chairman), Yasin Noor (deputy secretary general) and Pauline Njoroge (deputy organising secretary).
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta then asked the rebel MPs including Sabina Chege and Kanini Kega to resign from their seats.
He said the two can no longer continue to enjoy the fruits of the party when they have betrayed its leadership.
"Just move and leave us be in peace. And those seats that we gave you, please return them and we give them to others," Uhuru said.
What followed next was the pro-Ruto Jubilee MPs on June 6, 2023, who resolved to exit the Azimio Coalition partnership in a National Executive Committee meeting.
On June 13, they issued a notice of intent to withdraw from the coalition but the decision remained suspended.
This was after the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal barred the Jubilee rebel faction led by EALA MP Kanini Kega and nominated MP Sabina Chege from acting on behalf of the Jubilee party.
The Tribunal in a directive to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties also stopped the outfit's decision to exit Azimio.
The order also barred the Kega side from transacting on behalf of the party.
The Kega and embattled Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni-led factions have been fighting for the heart of the former ruling party.
The matter is still active in court following an application made by the other Jubilee faction led by Kioni.