Jubilee party meets IEBC over primaries

Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) Chairman Wafula Chebukati (centre) Jubilee Secretariat Raphael Tuju (left) and Secretary General Veronica Maina address(right) a press conference after jubilee party submitted their memorandum to IEBC at jubilee headquarters in Nairobi. Photo by WILLIS AWANDU

Jubilee officials will today meet officers of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission to discuss the modalities of conducting the party’s nominations.

The meeting comes against a backdrop of increased opposition to have IEBC run party nominations.

The head of Jubilee's secretariat, Mr Raphael Tuju, and Secretary General Veronica Maina will meet three IEBC officials to discuss the rules of engagement and how IEBC can be involved in the nominations.

“We are meeting to discuss this matter and look for common ground on outstanding issues,” Tuju said.

Ms Maina said the team would work on a short nomination programme as the commission was constrained by time as it is preparing for the August General Election.

Today’s meeting is a follow-up after the IEBC team, led by chairman Wafula Chebukati, visited the Jubilee headquarters and agreed to a meeting to discuss how the poll agency can supervise the party's primaries.

“I don’t want to pre-empt the outcome of the meeting but if I am asked, I wish political parties would carry out their primaries as we work on the General Election,” Chebukati said.

But he said he was optimistic that should the team agree that the commission carry out Jubilee’s nominations, it will do so.

“We have the capacity to run a national election and managing a party election will not be a problem,” Chebukati said.