Sabina Chege: Why we choose to work with Kenya Kwanza

Nominated MP Sabina Chege during an interview on Spice FM. [Screen Grab]

After the National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula recognised the Sabina Chege’s led Jubilee Party faction as a parliamentary party, some leaders felt he was undermining the spirit of the common good because he had excluded the other Jubilee faction.

Others felt the decision was made only because the Nominated Member of Parliament and her team had an alliance with the ruling party.

However, Chege has now defended the decision saying it was made because the Jubilee Party has a good number of MPs.

Speaking on Spice FM on Tuesday, December 5, Chege explained her decision to work with Kenyan Kwanza saying it was important to collaborate with the ruling coalition to save her party from drowning.

“We are not in Kenya Kwanza...we just decided to go out there, reach out to them in order to save our party. The conversation was not about Jubilee wanting to join Kenya Kwanza but about defending  Jubilee members and asking for a chance to participate in building the government and not just criticising it,” she said. 

According to her, Jubilee was being sidelined by the Azimio la Umoja coalition and, therefore, it was important to partner with the ruling government to gain influence and be part of decision-making.

“Sometimes even your decision and what you need to contribute becomes hard if you are on the other side. But when you are part of the team it becomes easier to say things are not going right. And this is not for the sake of you to be seen as opposition...We wanted some sort of cooperation and that is what we got,” said Chege. 

However, the nominated MP added that by supporting Kenya Kwanza, Kenyans should not assume that they have joined the President William Ruto-led alliance. 

“Jubilee will remain as an independent party that criticises and supports the government where possible,” said Chege.

According to her, the Jubilee party ceased from being a member of the Azimio 90 days after the election. This is after the coalition agreement expired and was not renewed.

Further, her faction has written to the Registrar of Political Party and the Azimio Coalition expressing their desire to formally exit Azimio.

Jubilee has been in a long-running battle on who gets control of the party, a battle that has pitted former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s allies against Chege’s faction.