Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP) is set to roll out registration of new members across the 47 counties in readiness for the 2017 General Election.
The party established last month, seeks to make a grand entry into politics with a win in the Kajiado Central by-election. National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale accused its opponents the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) of peddling propaganda that JAP was not a registered party.
Duale maintained that JAP will be the vehicle for President Uhuru Kenyatta to seek re-election in 2017 while his Deputy William Ruto will use the same to seek the top seat in 2022.
“We have a clear goal and we know where we want to go. We know our presidential candidate and the party that will be used not just in 2017, but also in 2022,” said Duale.
Addressing the press yesterday at JAP offices in Nairobi, Duale said following a retreat in Naivasha last month, members forming the Jubilee Coalition agreed to dissolve their parties and join one strong party that will be used for those seeking elective positions in the next general election.
dissenting voices
The process to dissolve the parties is in earnest and next week, a committee will be formed to start the process of consulting the members of the affiliate parties.
If all parties dissolve, then JAP will have among others The National Alliance (TNA), United Republican Party (URP), Alliance Party of Kenya (APK), United Democratic Front Party (UDF) and the Kenya African National Union (Kanu).
However, UDF Secretary General Abraham Limo had maintained that UDF will not dissolve or morph into another political outfit.
“We want to tell all our members that JAP is a fully registered party with official colours, logo, physical address and officials already in office. Next week, we will have a committee set up from all the affiliate parties to consult widely and ensure we all dissolve the parties by December,” said Duale.
And to ensure the process is seamless, JAP intends to bring on board those with dissenting voices over the planned merger. This is to ensure that the more than 55 parties join one strong party.
JAP secretary general Veronica Maina, said the merger will be stronger than any other coalition and that they will bring on board all the doubting Thomases.
“We all know that mergers are stronger than coalitions and that’s why we will not take chances but talk extensively to all the parties involved before we merge. But I can assure our supporters that the talks are ongoing,” said Maina.
Present were Senators Charles Keter (Kericho) and Beth Mugo (nominated) MPs Moses Sakuda (Kajiado North) Katoo Ole Metito (Kajiado South) and Yussuf Hassan (Kamkunji).
