Jubilee retains Kuria in talks to ‘tame’ Muthama in IEBC talks

Jubilee leadership has let the cat out on why it retained controversial Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria in the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) talks.

The Standard on Saturday reliably learnt that Jubilee believes Mr Kuria can match the antics and grandstanding of Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama, who is in the CORD seven-member team. Mr Muthama and Kuria were locked up at Pangani Police Station over hate speech allegations.

When Senate Majority Leader Kithure Kindiki read Kuria’s name among the seven member team during a press conference in Parliament on Thursday, there were murmurs forcing National Assembly Majority leader Aden Duale to explain why the controversial MP was retained despite being arrested two weeks.

“Why are you laughing that we have included Moses Kuria in our team? Si hata wale wengine wameweka Muthama (they have also included Muthama in their list. Kuria is an important member of our team,” said Duale.

He added: “This is like a football match, it's like the ongoing Euros. When you are going for a game you look at your opponents and look for players who match each member of their team. Kuria is an important team member, and for the avoidance of doubt, he has all the instructions from the Jubilee leadership.”

A reliable source said while a section of Jubilee legislators appeared to support the replacement of the Gatundu South MP, and the slot given to Mukurweini MP Kabando wa Kabando, who has been leading a bi-partisan parliamentary caucus bringing together about 150 legislators, President Uhuru Kenyatta, insisted that Kuria be retained “for specific reasons”.

“The President maintained that MK (Moses Kuria) has to be in the team. He is the one who directed the Majority Leaders to address the Press and give the Jubilee's list to the public,” said the source.

Mogotio MP Hellen Sambili, who had also been named in the CORD team has declined the offer, insisting that her party (Kanu) was working with Jubilee. CORD will therefore be forced to seek her replacement.

On Thursday, Duale said that the motion creating the joint parliamentary committee will be taken to the House Business Committee in the National Assembly and the Rules and Business Committee of the Senate on Tuesday before it is introduced in the two chambers on Wednesday.

Duale said that the committee had 30 days to meet all stakeholders and present the report in Parliament.