Mixed reactions greet announced TNA-URP merger

Kenya: The announcement by Jubilee coalition affiliate parties that they are headed for a merger has attracted mixed reactions from politicians.

National Assembly Leader of Majority Aden Duale has welcomed the move to merge URP and TNA to form the Jubilee Alliance Party.

Duale said this in preparation for the 2017 elections and that the move will unite Kenyans and avoid leadership vacuum in the two parties.

Speaking at Ol Rarinyiro Secondary School in Laikipia County yesterday, Duale said they would now embark on strengthening the party at the grassroots as well as creating strong party structures.

“This is a move is aimed at moving the leadership of the Jubilee alliance forward. We will no longer have party wrangles in the alliance and that is why we created this party,” he said.

Kieni MP Kanini Kega had only days ago urged TNA to convene a meeting for members to elect new leaders.

He also accused the party leaders of failing to account for the party’s funds and failing to consult members on maters of national interest.

Kega claimed that as a party, TNA has weak party structures and this is the root cause of the problems being experienced at the county level.

Speaking yesterday, Mwea MP Peter Gitau said Jubilee parties have their own regional support and a merger would give the party a more national outlook.

But Igembe South MP Mithika Linturi said: “It is unclear if the new Jubilee party will gain the support of members because of in my estimation over 95 per cent of the members were not consulted.”