Kanu leaders have welcomed the move by the United Republican Party (URP) to dissolve to form a new jubilee political outfit that President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy, William Ruto, want to use for the 2017 elections.
Uhuru's party, The National Alliance (TNA) and Ruto's URP want to dissolve all units in the Jubilee merger and build an alternate party, Jubilee Party of Kenya (JPK), for the 2017 contest.
Jubilee affiliate parties including TNA, URP, United Democratic Forum (UDF), Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP), the Alliance Party of Kenya (APK) and New Ford Kenya are all expected to dissolve by December 18.
Kanu has, however, maintained it won't dissolve. Kanu Chairman Gideon Moi said he is not opposed to the dissolution of other parties but maintained despite his party working with the Jubilee coalition, he has no plans to dissolve it and form the proposed JPK.
Gideon who is also the Baringo senator assured Kenyans that Kanu would not dissolve but would be glad to admit new members from URP and other parties that would dissolve.
"Kanu is an independent party that has a philosophy and policies to be followed. We cannot kill the party to form something new but those who want to dissolve theirs are free to do so and come join Kanu and we will move forward together," he said.
There have been varied reactions after the Jubilee coalition announced plans to introduce amendments to the Political Parties Act (PPA) in a move perceived as a way to clip the wings of rebels within the unit.
The amendment plan is to ensure all members of Jubilee coalition parties automatically become members of the new outfit.
Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen said: "It is a move we shall support until it goes through, because for some time, members have had a right to decide whether to join or not and we feel this trend must end."
Kanu Secretary General Nick Salat said dissolving independent parties was not among the agreements they made when they began to work with the Jubilee, and that the party won't dissolve.
"We cannot dissolve Kanu and the proposal to merge and form one party will make us walk out of that marriage. Other parties are free dissolve and if their members are uncomfortable with the merger, they are welcome to join Kanu," he said.
West Pokot Senator John Lonyangapuo asked other leaders from URP not willing to join JAP to move into Kanu.
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