Mixed reactions over JAP as North Rift leaders, youth oppose URP dissolution

Leaders from Rift Valley have described as premature talks of a merger between The National Alliance Party and the United Republican Party to form one party — the Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP) — which senior coalition politicians have said will be used as the vehicle with which President Uhuru Kenyatta will seek re-election in 2017

They say very little has been done to alert the public of the proposed adoption of the new party and worry that great deal of groundwork will have to be done to popularise JAP.

Elijah Lagat, the MP for Chesumei constituency in Nandi County, says voters have been left in the dark  about how the new political outfit will be structured. But he says they will easily come on board with more information.

Concerted campaigns

“There will be no problem in marketing JAP. With concerted campaigns, any resistance will be tackled,” said Lagat.

However, despite the warming of the ruling coalition’s supporters to JAP, particularly in Nandi, Uasin Gishu, Elgeyo Marakwet, Kericho and Trans Nzoia counties, the 50-50 power-sharing agreement between TNA and URP should be honoured, he said.

 In the meantime, said Langat, the Jubilee government should  focus on  serving Kenyans. 

“JAP is meant for the 2017 elections. It is still early to politick unless there is a by-election. We want the government to deliver,”  Langat said.

Marakwet West MP William Kisang, who is the Secretary General of the Rift Valley parliamentarians, said local leaders must start to canvass support for JAP.

  “Individual MPs must hold public campaigns and also use other forums   to market JAP when we proceed for recess,” he said.

However, some groups want URP to be retained and have spoken out against having their party swallowed up by another political party.

Working relationship

“Although we want to have a working relationship with JAP, we want URP to maintain its identity. It should not be disbanded,” said Mr Kiprotich Cherargei, an Eldoret-based lawyer and a youth leader from Nandi.

“We don’t understand JAP and we need to know its agenda and manifesto,” he said.

Cherargei, who vied and lost in URP nominations for the Chesumei parliamentary seat, said voters in the Rift Valley region own URP because they formed the party.

He was supported  by, Cyrus Ting,  a member of the Uasin Gishu County Assembly. “The voters are still confused about JAP because there were no prior consultation. They heard of it through the media,” Ting said.

The MCA said URP should remain as the vehicle that will champion the interest of  local people. 

Last month, JAP vice chairman David Murathe said  a number of activities have been lined up in the coming months leading up to a National Delegates Conference in December where members will elect JAP’s national officials.

But before this, a leadership structure will be developed to precede a members’ recruitment drive and grassroots elections.

It is at the NDC that JAP partners   TNA and  URP will decided on whether to enter into a merger or dissolve to form one entity. “After three months of member recruitment from June to October, we will hold grassroots elections in wards, constituencies and later counties through to November before the NDC at Kasarani in December,” said Murathe. Deputy President William Ruto, the URP leader, has been publicly rallying the ruling coalition’s supporters to join JAP.

But some leaders from Uhuru’s own Central Kenya bastion have expressed their misgivings about collapsing TNA and URP into one party.