Ruto downplays Jubilee feuds as party unveils Wajir hopeful

Deputy President William Ruto unveils Jubilee’s Wajir West by-election candidate Ahmed Kolosh at the party’s headquarters in Nairobi yesterday. [Jenipher Wachie, Standard]

Deputy President William Ruto yesterday made his first public appearance at Jubilee Party (JP) headquarters in Pangani, Nairobi, since the March 9, 2018 handshake to unveil the party’s candidate for the Wajir West by-election.

The visit to unveil Ahmed Kolosh Mohamed came slightly two months since his public tiff with immediate former vice chairman David Murathe, who openly ruled out his candidature to succeed party leader President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Yesterday, the DP’s arrival at the venue was full of pomp. He did avoided commenting on on the party’s internal wrangles and instead called on members to unite so that they can fulfill their campaign pledges.

He was received by Jubilee’s secretary-general Raphael Tuju, National Assembly Majority Leader Aden Duale (Garissa Township), Senate Deputy Majority Leader Senator Fatuma Dullo (Isolo), Laisamis MP Marselino Malimo Arbelle among others, before he held a brief closed-door meeting with them and Kolosh. The delegation shortly emerged thereafter with the DP  and Kolosh wearing a Jubilee T-shirt.

“The party is engaged in the transformation of Kenya and with Kolosh joining us, he is now part of the transformation,” said the Deputy President, while welcoming Kolosh, and paving way for the April 25 by-election.

Murathe’s onslaught

“This is a momentous occasion. I can confirm that we are committed to a peaceful by-election. It will be a decent election devoid of name calling which would ordinarily inform a General Election.”

Murathe’s onslaught on the DP, even threatening to seek legal advice from the Supreme Court on his eligibility, caused an uproar among Ruto’s allies, who demanded immediate action against the former for disrespecting the deputy party leader.

In 2017, Ruto camped at the headquarters to oversee the party’s primaries that saw some aggrieved contestants pitch tent at the facility seeking audience with him.

Murathe said Ruto manipulated the nomination process to favour his allies in Mt Kenya region and his Rift Valley backyard.

Some Jubilee politicians who lost in the primaries like nominated Senator Isaac Mwaura termed the process a sham that could not produce credible results.

But Mukurweini MP Kabando wa Kabando, one-time presidential candidate and 2017 Nairobi governor hopeful Peter Kenneth, and former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo, accused Ruto of rigging them out as they were a threat to his presidential bid.

But yesterday, the DP said the party will contest the Wajir West constituency by-election on a platform of issues, ideas, sound policy and service delivery aligned to the Big Four Agenda.

“We will champion equity, inclusivity and a robust development agenda. The campaigns will not centre on ethnicity and clan, but ideas and the promises in our manifesto,” he said, and urged the competition - ODM and Kanu - to exercise decorum.

Tuju also lauded the decision by Kolosh to join the ruling partyand their support during the campaign period.

The DP said that although Jubilee did not field a candidate in 2017, the party is hopeful that it  will clinch the seat.

Jubilee zone?

He affirmed that Wajir County is now a Jubilee zone, having won the seats of governor, senator, woman representative, a majority of Members of the National Assembly and Members of the County Assembly (MCAs).

“The competition should now recognise the mood on the ground and appreciate the dynamics at play. Kolosh will join the Jubileebrigade in Parliament to support the government agenda,” he said.

Kolosh thanked the party leadership, saying he was extremely delighted to be associated with Jubilee.

“I promise to conduct my campaigns in a peaceful manner and with decorum. I commit to stick to the rules of the game. We are in the mood of talking together and not abusing each other,” he added.