Six New Ford-K MPs join Jubilee

Jubilee coalition on Monday formally signed a post-election pact with Justice minister Eugene Wamalwa’s New Ford-Kenya ahead of the alliance’s retreat on Tuesday.

Deputy President-elect William Ruto said with the six New Ford-K MPs joining the alliance, Jubilee would have a majority of 195 seats in the National Assembly besides being the majority party in the Senate.

Speaking during the signing ceremony in Nairobi, Mr Ruto, the leader of URP party, said affiliate parties would join the “Jubilee family’’ at today’s retreat at Great Rift Valley Lodge, where the parties would share seats in the National Assembly and the Senate.

“We shall go to craft a team that will spearhead the leadership and management of both the Senate and Parliament. Jubilee is committed to go out of its way to create an inclusive government both outside and inside Parliament,’’ he said.

Mr Ruto, who with President-elect Uhuru Kenyatta will attend the retreat, pledged that Jubilee would work “openly and transparently’’ with the affiliates “for the best interest of Kenya.’’

Lobbying for top positions in Parliament and the Senate intensified last evening as new entrants joined races for speaker positions.

Former MPs Justin Muturi and Abdikadir Mohamed are seeking Jubilee’s support to win the National Assembly Speaker’s seat while Mr Kenneth Marende of Cord is seeking to retain his position.

They will battle it out with 12 other candidates who picked application forms on Monday.

Garissa Township MP Aden Duale and his Mandera West counterpart Mohamud Mohamed are eyeing Majority Leader’s post in the National Assembly.

The coalition will have to pick the candidate for the Senate Majority Leader from Senators-elect Kithure Kindiki (Tharaka Nithi, TNA), Kiraitu Murungi (Meru, APK), Kimani Wamatangi (Kiambu, TNA) and Mutahi Kagwe (Nyeri, Narc).

The Senate Speaker competition pits former Turkana Central MP Ekwee Ethuro against former Speaker Francis ole Kaparo.

They will face off with Mr Phillip Murgor, Mr Okongo Mogeni, Mr Farah Maalim and six others who have joined the race.

And even as the lobbying continued, Senators allied to the Jubilee alliance asked their parties to consider a Majority Leader who is a unifying agent in the Upper House.

Cord leaders are also expected to meet in Nairobi today to strategise on how to capture key seats in the two Houses.

Report by Julius Sigei, Billy Muiruri and Njeri Rugene.