Lack of structures in JAP lead to rival factions fighting over control

Wrangling has intensified in Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP) county branches as rival factions fight to take control of the party affairs ahead of establishment of clear structures by the party.

Party leaders in Nyeri, Nakuru and Laikipia counties are engaged in squabbles over who are the bona fide party officials.

The scramble for positions has intensified after the President Uhuru Kenyatta personally presented Patrick Tutui the party’s ticket to contest the Kajiado Central parliamentary seat.

Uhuru visited the party headquarters at its Lavington offices after hosting the national interim officials for a luncheon at a popular Nairobi restaurant last Friday. The President’s open association with the party has erased doubts and confirmed that it is the vehicle he and his deputy William Ruto will use to seek re-election in 2017.

In Nakuru, a faction led by Jubilee operative James Karimi who was initially seeking to take over TNA branch leadership has opened JAP offices and declared themselves the officials.

Karimi and his deputy Joseph Bett have said they will be responsible for steering the party in the county to make it a formidable force in the coming elections.

“But we will continue to consult with all affiliate parties to develop a road map for the ultimate merger,” he said.

Karimi denied claims that they are out to hijack the party, saying their intention is to popularise JAP.

Two weeks ago, another group led by TNA aspirant for the Nakuru West Parliamentary seat Charles Maisiba emerged and announced at a press conference they were the bona fide party officials.

A move by the party to have coordinators dispatched from Nairobi to manage the party affairs in the counties has caused outrage among the self-declared party officials.

“We are better placed to run the party in the branch as we know the party supporters well unlike officials imposed from Nairobi,” said Karimi.

JAP national vice chairman David Murathe has said the party will appoint coordinators at the county, constituency and ward levels.

The party national office is currently concentrating on the Kajiado Central by-election which it seeks to wrestle from ODM following the elevation of immediate former MP Joseph Nkaissery to the Cabinet.

Following the formation of JAP, wrangling at the Nakuru County TNA branch ended after one of the factions which was seeking to take over leadership swiftly moved into the new outfit.

In Laikipia County, URP officials have disowned election of interim JAP officials and accused the organizers of sidelining their party during the exercise.

Led by URP county chairman George Sintaroi they said they do not recognize Christopher Maitho as the interim JAP chairman.

“We have been waiting for directions from JAP national office on how to unite the two parties at the county but TNA rushed and elected officials from within their party,”he said. URP chief executive Robert King’au said both constituent parties should have been involved for a united JAP.

Maitho who is the TNA county chairman however downplayed the row saying he was given the mandate by delegates.

But some URP officers have accused TNA officials in the counties of acting as the “big brother” especially in areas in Rift Valley where the two main Jubilee affiliates enjoy significant support.

In Nyeri a move by businessman Thuo Mathenge to re-brand TNA billboard with those of JAP and declare himself the party’s county leader caused a storm. Kieni MP Kanini Kega was among leaders who criticized Mathenge said it could be construed that TNA had been dissolved.

“We just came together as TNA and URP and other like minded to form JAP but this does not mean we have dissolved TNA and URP,”he said.

TNA and URP MPs and some MCAs who have been making monthly contributions towards the two parties are also in dilemma over their continued loyalty to the parties with the formation of JAP.

“While we continue funding TNA our rivals are busy positioning themselves in JAP through resource mobilization and taking over leadership at the branches,” a Nakuru TNA MP said.