In Summary
  • Some media reported on Friday GovernorLee Kinyanjui has been handed a direct ticket by the Jubilee Party.
  • Other aspirants and members now urge Jubilee leadership to swiftly address the issue and allay fears of bias and favouritism.

     

Dr Stanley Chege Karanja, Jubilee aspirant for Nakuru governor, addressing the press in Nakuru city on April 4.
NO DIRECT TICKETS: Dr Stanley Chege Karanja, Jubilee aspirant for Nakuru governor, addressing the press in Nakuru city on April 4.
Image: JAMES MUNYA

The entry of Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui to the Jubilee party has jolted other Jubilee aspirants with fears he has been given a direct ticket.

He moved from his Ubuntu People's Forum to Jubilee on April 1 and hopes to defend his seat on the Jubilee ticket.

Some media reported on Friday that Kinyanjui has been handed a direct ticket by Jubilee.

The report upset aspirants who said they have not received any communication from the party about a direct ticket for governor.

Rumours and media reports have it Governor Kinyanjui has been given a direct ticket by Jubilee. We would like better direction from the party
Dr Stanley Karanja

They urged the Jubilee leadership to swiftly address the issue and end confusion.

Dr Stanley Karanja, a governor hopeful, said clarity is needed so the matter can be put to rest.

Addressing reporters on Monday in Nakuru, Karanja said the direct ticket reports have thrown his supporters into confusion.

"Rumours and media reports have it Governor Kinyanjui has been given a direct ticket by Jubilee. We would like better direction from the party if there is such information," Karanja said.

"I want to state categorically, and contrary to the rumours that I have met with someone and everything has been agreed on, as [are] lies. "

He said he has not discussed the matter with anyone and he and his secretariat were waiting for party direction on the way forward.

Karanja said he has made several calls to the party leadership without getting clear information on the direct ticket issue.

He said now he is not sure whether he will continue to market himself with the Jubilee Party, in which he has invested heavily.

If information is not forthcoming, he said, he will pull down all his campaign materials and billboards until the issue is amicably resolved.

Governor Kinyanjui on Friday declared he will be seeking reelection on the Jubilee ticket.

In a statement on his official Facebook account, Kinyanjui said he reached the decision after a consultation with his UPF party leadership. He said the aim is to consolidate the Azimio support base in the region.

Since the Jubilee Party rebranded and sought to revive itself, it has attracted many candidates previously associated with small parties.

Jubilee so far has attracted four aspirants for governor, including Karanja, former Senator James Mungai and Didraph Mwangi.

Kinyanjui is the latest to join the race for the ticket. He had stated earlier that he would seek a ticket from his Ubuntu party.

UPF is under the Azimio-One Kenya Coalition and was one of the parties that signed the coalition agreement at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre.

The governor jumped ship at the last minute, though he has said his party will field candidates for other seats in Nakuru apart from governor.

Whoever wins the Jubilee ticket for Nakuru governor will face UDA's Susan Wakarura Kihika for the county’s top job.

(Edited by V. Graham)

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