• Kega who was defending his Kieni MP seat lost to Njoroge Wainaina of UDA during the 2022 General Elections.
• Since 2023 started, the former ruling party has been divided creating two factions; one allied to Uhuru and the other one towards President William Ruto.
Image: FILE
EALA Member of Parliament Kanini Kega has opened up about his relationship with President William Ruto and his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta
In an interview with NTV on Thursday, Kega said that he has no bad relations with former President Uhuru Kenyatta despite the cracks in the Jubilee Party.
Kega described himself as one of the Uhuru royals who stood with him in 2022 until he handed over power.
"Uhuru is still my friend and if there was a person who was a loyal soldier and stood with him, I am one of them. I stood with him until the end. I stood with him until he handed over power," he said.
Kega however said that he has not met the former President post the August 2022 elections nor engaged in any conversation.
However, Kega who is the former Kieni MP revealed that the only issue he had with the former President was the refusal to pass on the baton.
"There is only one thing I think according to my assessment, he failed, he didn't pass on the button and we decided to do that," he said.
When it comes to President William Ruto, the EALA MP stated that he has never had any issue with him despite them being in opposite camps during the August 2022 election period.
Kega said he has never been enemies with the Head of State.
"His Excellency has been my friend. It was not difficult for me to knock on his door and for him to open it for me. It is natural, we are friends we were never enemies," he said.
In the Jubilee administration, both Ruto and Kega were under Uhuru's leadership.
However, Ruto who was the then Deputy President was kicked out of Jubilee as Uhuru was handed a new five-year term as party boss during the National Delegates Convention held at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) on February 26, 2022.
Fast forward, Ruto under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party clinched the presidential seat to become Kenya's fifth President.
Kega who was defending his Kieni MP seat lost to Njoroge Wainaina of UDA during the 2022 General Elections.
Since 2023 started, the former ruling party has been divided creating two factions; one allied to Uhuru and the other one towards President William Ruto.
In February 2023, at least 32 Jubilee MPs met with President William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua at State House.
The Jubilee legislators pledged to work and support President Ruto-led government.
This was despite Jubilee being a member of the Azimio la Umoja One coalition which is led by opposition chief Raila Odinga.
On May 25, 2023, a faction backed by former President Uhuru Kenyatta kicked out Jubilee party rebels including nominated MP Sabina Chege, MP Kanini Kega, and Nelson Dzuya.
On June 6, the pro-Ruto Jubilee MPs 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 the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition.
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 two sides have been operating as two different entities.
The matter is still active in court following an application made by the other Jubilee faction led by Kioni.