Jubilee leaders camp in Kajiado Central, promise win

The Jubilee coalition has exuded confidence in winning the Kajiado Central parliamentary seat by-election.

Speaking Sunday at a campaign rally, National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale said the coalition is determined to win the seat that fell vacant after the former MP Joseph Nkaissery was appointed Interior cabinet secretary.

The coalition leaders' optimism comes days after the newly formed party, Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP), held its primaries. The jubilee candidate will vie on a JAP ticket.

Mr Duale led JAP affiliated MPs in a bid to drum up support for the party's candidate Patrick Tutui in preparation for the March 16, by-election.

With blessings from President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto, the leaders asked residents to support Mr Tutui's bid, as his win is a win for the Jubilee coalition as it sets ground for the 2017 General Election.

In a move to woo residents, Kericho Senator Charles Keter promised development projects from the national government if Tutui wins the seat.

Duale said JAP has developed strategies and structures that will ensure it wins the seat. The MPs vowed to pitch tent in the constituency to ensure their candidate makes it to Parliament.

"We will not leave this place until Tutui joins us in Parliament. We will, however, carry out a development-based campaign," said Duale.

Kajiado Senator Peter Ole Mositet said they are in high gear to popularise the new party in the region.

"We will make sure the new party is established as we will be the first constituency to elect a Member of Parliament on the JAP ticket," he said.

Candidate Tutui said: "We are certain that Kajiado Central, which was an ODM zone in Kajiado County is now a JAP zone as residents remain optimistic and eager to show gratitude to President Uhuru Kenyatta."

During the party primaries, Tutui beat his close contender Memusi Kanchori by slightly over 400 votes. Mr Kanchori later defected and joined ODM where he won in the primaries.

JAP will be banking on the support of Rtd Captain Anthony Keroken who was third in the Jubilee nominations, with 7,666 votes.

Duale and Nkaissery later led a group of leaders to Mr Keroken's home in an effort to convince him to support Tutui. However, they were meet by a hostile crowd that warned them not to address the gathering.