Former President Uhuru Kenyatta's aide dismisses William Ruto 'fixing' claims

Jubilee alliance Party Vice Chairman David Murathe

Questions to Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP) Vice Chair and immediate former UK Centre director David Murathe on the relationship between UK Centre, if any, Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria and the status of Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP).

Q... Please explain to us what UK Centre was, who else was an official there, what was the purpose of it then and does it still exist?

A... The UK Centre was an office of then member of Parliament for Gatundu South Hon Uhuru Kenyatta. It used to co-ordinate development programmes for the constituency. It worked closely with teams on the ground to deliver his development priorities in water, roads, electrification, and bursaries, etc. In fact, the founding director of the centre (Catherine Kihanya) was also chairperson of the Constituency Development Fund. Of course, the centre became redundant when Uhuru became president.

Q... How well do you, at a personal level, know Moses Kuria?

A... I have known Moses Kuria since he joined the Party of National Unity as spokesman. He was always very vocal and active in media. Moses has never worked at the UK Centre or been an assistant to the President to the best of my knowledge. However, he was a staunch supporter of the President and TNA during the 2013 presidential campaign.

Q... Why do you think high profile politicians mentioned your name jointly with that of Mr Kuria in regard to witness coaching?

A... The person who mentioned my name and tried to drag in the UK Centre is Hon Raila Odinga and his Orange Democratic Movement cohorts. The reason he did this was to try and drag in the name of the President into the Deputy President William Ruto 'fixing' allegations. Suffice to say that I actually felt sorry for him if he could stoop that low to utter falsehoods and blatant, baseless allegations without checking out facts.  The office of the Director of Public Prosecutions has directed Raila, Martha Karua and Kuria to record statements over the International Criminal Court (ICC) matter. We expect them to abide by that directive, failure to which respective institutions should move with speed and have them arrested.

Q... Don't you think politicising the ICC case could work against the DP?

A... We are not politicising the case. The DP has a very able legal team, which has its own legal strategy of handling the case. We have always maintained the genesis of this and other cases at the ICC have always been political and we in Jubilee coalition sorted out our political differences the moment we came together to guarantee Kenyans a peaceful solution to political competition. Those who still believe in the "No Raila No peace" mantra are living in a time warp long overtaken by the realities of today.

Q... How close are you to the President?

A... I would say the President represents the vision that millions of Kenyans share. He personifies their aspirations for a prosperous, equitable, secure and developing Kenya. We share the same political philosophy and we have worked together for the realisation and actualisation of this objective. Of course, we've come along way together and we understand each other.

Q... What other roles and responsibilities does the President assign you?

A... The President does not assign me any roles or responsibilities. I am not in Government. That's the work of his Government officials.

Q... What is the end game for the amalgamation of all affiliate parties into one, whose idea was it and what is your role as an official in the party?

A... JAP is the brainchild of the President and his deputy. Our role as interim officials is to midwife the amalgamation of the constituent partner parties together with the leadership of those parties. Right now, there is a steering committee that will harmonise structures of all willing coalition partner parties with a view to winding up all parties by the end of the year into one formidable JAP. The committee will work out modalities and legal mechanisms of merging the parties.

Q... Other than Senator Kiraitu Murungi and Noah Wekesa, who are other members of the committee?

A....The party leaders of all constituent parties are members of the committee. The chairmen, secretary generals and executive directors are also working on the harmonisation.

Q... In the event affiliate parties, including United Republican Party, don't gel well under JAP, what options will you explore? 

A.. Failing to gel is not an option. Everyone agrees it is in the best interest of all of us to come together for victory in 2017, 2022 and beyond. It's much better to be in one basket rather than several disparate groupings that only serve to polarise the country along tribal and sectarian lines. I also hope the CORD grouping can gel together. 

Q... There have been jitters in the Rift that UK supporters may not back Ruto is 2022. Any assurances?

A... Uhuru Kenyatta supporters are also William Ruto supporters. Anybody thinking anything else is daydreaming. That narrative is propaganda being strewn around by our detractors.