TNA members threaten to quit Jubilee

President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Kisumu, Kenya: The National Alliance (TNA) party members in Western and Nyanza regions have accused President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto of abandoning them.

The group consisting of candidates who contested for gubernatorial and parliamentary seats on the TNA ticket said President Kenyatta has failed to recognise them.

Speaking in a Kisumu hotel, the members said they feel aggrieved for using their resources to popularise TNA and the Jubilee coalition in their areas, but in return have nothing to show for their effort.

They accuse the party top brass of neglecting them immediately the President and his deputy assumed office and that they are working close with those who were never party members.

Jubilee backlash

“We are not amused that the President left us on our own immediately we helped him get power. When he is appointing people, we feature nowhere nor are we consulted,” said Ambeyi Ligabo, who contested the Shinyalu parliamentary seat on TNA.

The former UN Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression noted that it was difficult selling the Jubilee coalition in the region that overwhelmingly voted for the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD).

“Some of us were branded traitors to our communities but we soldiered on selling the Jubilee ideals by using our money. Today, Uhuru consults church leaders and those who did not support him,” Mr Ligabo said.

Meshack Okello, who contested for the Budalangi parliamentary seat echoed Ligabo’s sentiments saying the Jubilee risks losing ground in the region.

“Even the agents who sacrificed their time and energy to ensure that our votes were safe have never been paid, two years down the line. We are considering quitting Jubilee and support CORD,” Mr Okello said.