Jubilee party to transform into Uhuru's re-election vehicle for 2017 polls

Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP) will be transformed into Jubilee Party (JP) in a three-day event billed as the biggest political statement, the ruling coalition hopes will build a momentum for re-election.

Yesterday, JAP Secretary General Veronica Maina procedurally announced in the local dailies their intention to amend the party’s name, change officials, symbol, slogan and colour, rules and regulations.

“Notice is hereby given that Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP), a fully registered political party, wishes to amend... constitution, rules, and regulations, title, name and address of the party officials, name, symbol, slogan and colour in accordance with section 20 of the Political Parties Act 2011,” reads the advert.

Party symbol

The symbol of the party will be two hands holding each other and both red and yellow colours previously used and a dove with red, black, green colours perched on a horn. The party plans to retain the marriage of the “I believe” and the “Kusema na Kutenda” motto.

Plans for the launch of JP are in top gear and among those invited for the event at Moi International Sports Centre Kasarani are top regional and a few international musicians to add colour. Details of who have been invited are, however, still a closely guarded secret.

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The Standard on Sunday has learnt that several artists have been booked and agreements entered for them to entertain delegates for the three days. The artists will include several from Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania.

Registrar of Political Parties Lucy Ndung’u said her office had been notified of the planned national delegates meetings to dissolve political parties and the subsequent merger.

In an interview with The Standard on Sunday, Ndung’u said after the dissolution, each party will present the resolution documents to her office.

“After signing the documents, to enable the merger to be finalised, they are required by law to have transitional clauses that will include the interim officials and interim structures of the new party if any until proper elections are held under the party’s constitution,” said Ms Ndung’u.

The world renowned political parties that have been invited for the launch include the ruling Chinese Communist Party (CCP), Republican Party from the United States and South Africa’s ANC.

Others include Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) of Tanzania and Uganda President Yoweri Museveni’s National Resistant Movement (NRM).

“The letters of invitations have been sent to the party addresses and a number such as the Chinese ruling party has confirmed attendance,” said a State House source, who did not want to be named.

Last week, Jubilee Party entered into a working relationship with the CCP “for the benefit of its members and citizens of both countries”.

Jubilee Party Steering Committee co-chair and Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi said they will improve collaboration between the two parties once Jubilee Party is officially launched.

Delegates

On Tuesday, Jubilee Party affiliate parties agreed on a list of 10,000 delegates who will attend the September 8, 9 and 10 National Delegates convention (NDC). But according to Kiraitu, beyond the delegates there will be close to 100,000 people in total to grace the launch.

“Kasarani will be full on the day of the launch. We have planned for a mammoth crowd,” he said.

Two weeks ago in a televised address to the nation, Uhuru announced that the JP constituent parties will dissolve in simultaneous National Delegates Conferences and subsequently hold its first National Delegate Convention. Already 14 parties have declared interest to dissolve.

On a Tuesday meeting at La Mada Hotel in Nairobi, officials of the parties presented their lists of delegates.

It is expected that close to Sh500 million will be spent in the event. The expenditure will include facilitation of the delegates for food and accommodation, payment for international guests from the various parties across the globe and the artists.

Banners with the party colours, T-shirts, caps, decoration for the parties’ events and the eventual final convention are also expected to take up much of the funds. Uhuru and Deputy will be the chief guests.

In the programme that has been finalised, on September 8, parties will hold their in-house meetings, with a sole agenda of ratifying the dissolution of the political vehicles ahead of the merger.

On the second day, guests, including the steering committee co-chairmen, leaders from various regions, MPs and senators, will address the delegates and National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale will be the keynote speaker.

Kiraitu said Uhuru will be declared the party leader and Ruto his deputy deputise him in the party hierarchy that will include close to a hundred positions.

Uhuru will be the main speaker on the final day.