Jubilee and CORD in war of words over defection by opposition leaders

Former Commission for the Implementation of the Constitution Chairman Charles Nyachae (left) and Kilifi North MP Gideon Mung’aro during the launch of Jubilee Party at Kasarani on Saturday. [PHOTO: BEVERLYNE MUSILI/ STANDARD]

NAIROBI: Jubilee and CORD leaders have differed over the defections by some Opposition governors and MPs to Jubilee Party.

Even as Jubilee insisted the defections have dealt a blow to the Opposition’s chances in the next General Election, CORD argued that the shift in political allegiances was ‘inconsequential’ and unlikely to have any impact on its future political prospects.

National Assembly Leader of Majority Aden Duale (Garissa Town) said the defections and the dismissive reaction from the Opposition was evidence that its leaders had not learned anything from the previous elections.

“CORD has not learned from history. When Deputy President William Ruto led a walk-out from the Opposition in 2010, they said the defections were inconsequential but it cost them the elections in 2013. Watch this space. This time round, the defections will cost them even the seat of Leader of Opposition,” claimed Mr Duale.

The MP argued that more Opposition members will cross the floor in the coming days.

“The Opposition numbers will be depleted by more than 50 per cent. Leaders are elected by the people, and it is the same people that will follow them out of the parties,” he said, dismissing suggestions that the defectors were not popular.

But CORD co-principal Kalonzo Musyoka argued that those who decamped had written their own political obituaries.

Mr Kalonzo, whose Wiper party lost several MPs, dared the defectors to resign and seek fresh mandate through the Jubilee Party.

“What I can tell those from Wiper is that they are politically finished, because, they moved alone and people are waiting to mock them. I ask them to be honourable and resign, as it would be dishonest if they continue to serve and earn a salary when they have cheated their voters,” charged Kalonzo.

fresh mandate

He added: “Let Jubilee be honest and ask the defectors to seek fresh mandate. When Raila moved to National Development Party, he resigned and sought fresh mandate. Let them follow suit, they will know that theirs was an attempt to tilt public perception and a cheap political public relation exercise.”

Senate Minority Leader Moses Wetang’ula told supporters in Kakamega that Jubilee had deceived the community for long and should be ignored. “Jubilee has done no development in this region. Their work is to compromise our leaders instead of developing the region. We should ignore them and vote for real change, which I am committed to doing,” Mr Wetang’ula said.

On Saturday, Jubilee paraded the defectors during its National Delegates Convention, during which 11 constituent parties dissolved to form the new Jubilee Party.

Those who ditched the Orange party are James Rege (Karachuonyo), Ahmed Abbas (Ijara), Gideon Mung’aro (Kilifi North), Zainab Chidzuga (Kilifi County), Mustapha Iddi (Kilifi South), Masoud Mwahima (Likoni), Mpuri Aburi (Tigania East) and Joseph Lekuton (Laisamis).

Others were John Waluke (Sirisia), Stephen Kariuki (Mathare), Protus Akuja (Loima), Issac Mwaura (nominated), Cyprian Iringo (Igembe Central), and Samuel Arama (Nakuru Town).

Those who ditched Ford Kenya were the party chairman, Senator John Munyes (Turkana), Deputy Chairman Khatib Mwashetani (Lunga Lunga) and Nicholas Ngikor (Turkana East). Those who dumped Wiper are Kisoi Munyao (Mbooni), Joe Mutambo (Mwingi North), John Munuve (Mwingi Central), Richard Makenga (Kaiti) and Regina Ndambuki (Kilome).

The Opposition also lost members allied to three of its affiliates- Federal Party of Kenya’s Peter Shehe (Ganze), Chama Cha Uzalendo’s Vincent Musyoka (Mwala) and Vincent Munyaka (Machakos Town) and Muungano’s Francis Mwangangi (Yatta)

Two governors, Salim Mvurya (Kwale) and Ukur Yattani (Marsabit) also left the Opposition.

Yesterday, Meru Senator Kiraitu Muringi claimed that Kenyans were losing faith in the Opposition hence the defections “by those fed up with empty rhetoric”.

Kiraitu added that no politician would admit that they were being vanquished, and CORD leaders were only making excuses for their falling fortunes.

“What the Opposition is doing by dismissing the defections is playing to the gallery. The truth is that they are seriously hurting from the hemorrhage, they will not likely recover from the loss now that we have elections in a few months.”

However, CORD Deputy chief whip, Chris Wamalwa (Kiminini) said the defections have made the coalition stronger “as the party no longer has traitors among its ranks”.

“Those who defected must know that their days are numbered. In any case, we have become stronger,” said Mr Wamalwa.
Wiper leaders insisted that the defections were inconsequential to its political strength in Ukambani.

“They have committed political suicide because Jubilee has no footing in here. You can remember Jubilee tried to do the same thing during my by-election but they were defeated. The mood has not changed,” said the party’s deputy chairperson and Makueni senator, Mutula Kilonzo Jnr.

ODM Secretary of Political Affairs Opiyo Wandayi (Ugunja) said the leaders who defected should prepare for defeat in next year’s General Election.

lone rangers

“They have moved alone and left the people in ODM. They will meet their waterloo in August 2017. No one ever dares ODM and survives politically,” he claimed.

Fuelling the war of words, however, is whether the MPs actually defected in light of the reality that an official defection requires official communication to Clerk of the National Assembly.

Wamalwa charged that the defectors have committed an illegality by failing to resign formally.

“The Political Parties Act only allows those in the merging parties to defect to Jubilee. The defectors from ODM, Ford Kenya and Wiper must, therefore, seek a fresh mandate from the people,” he said.

Registrar of Political Parties Lucy Ndung’u explained that if a member is deemed to have contravened the Political Parties Act and the party’s Constitution, then a party can institute a disciplinary action against the member.