Embu Jubilee officials tell disgruntled members to leave
Embu Interim Jubilee Party chairman Elias Kathiga (second left) together with other officials and aspirants address the press at Owoods Hotel on January 2, 2017 where they dared disgruntled members to leave the party. PHOTO | CHARLES WANYORO | NATION MEDIA GROUP
What you need to know:
- Responding to an ultimatum issued by a section of leaders on Wednesday that the appointment of Speaker Kariuki Mate as director of Operations be revoked, interim chairman Elias Kathiga said the leaders were only spreading propaganda to cause confusion.
- Addressing aspirants for various elective seats in the county at Owoods Hotel, Mr Kathiga reaffirmed their commitment to serve the party fairly without discriminating against any candidate.
Rifts in Jubilee Party leadership in Embu County deepened on Thursday after interim officials dared disgruntled aspirants to leave, accusing them of fanning ‘unnecessary’ internal conflicts over impending nominations.
Responding to an ultimatum issued by a section of leaders on Wednesday that the appointment of Speaker Kariuki Mate as director of Operations be revoked, interim chairman Elias Kathiga said the leaders were only spreading propaganda to cause confusion.
On Wednesday, Governor Martin Wambora, Senator Lenny Kivuti, Deputy Governor Dorothy Nditi, Mbeere North MP Charles Njagagua and former Cabinet Minister Njeru Ndwiga expressed fear that the appointment of Mr Mate would disadvantage his opponents during party nominations.
They said that since the Speaker supported Runyenjes MP Cecily Mbarire in her quest for the Embu gubernatorial seat, she would receive preferential treatment.
But the interim officials allayed fears that some favoured candidates had already obtained direct tickets to run for various seats due to their connections to the Jubilee Party headquarters.
ROCK THE PARTY
Mr Kathiga said it was better for the party to lose some of its members and remain peaceful than harbouring numerous candidates who would rock the party from within.
Addressing aspirants for various elective seats in the county at Owoods Hotel, Mr Kathiga reaffirmed their commitment to serve the party fairly without discriminating against any candidate.
“What is causing jitters at the moment is that some people don’t want to appreciate that there is a team that is already working for Jubilee Party. We are a neutral group working from all parts of the county.
“The President has already pronounced himself that there is no single preferred aspirant. Anybody making such allegations is just trying to create unnecessary tension among aspirants,” said Mr Kathiga.
He called upon those discontented with the Jubilee leadership to refocus their energies to voter registration.
County Jubilee Interim Secretary General Johnston Nyaga criticised the group led by Mr Ndwiga for claiming that there were plans by Mr Mate to rig Embu nominations in favour of Ms Mbarire.
Water Trust Fund Chairman Geoffrey Ruku who is aspiring for the Embu Senatorial seat said any candidate who had identified themselves with the party should either be ready to support it even after losing in the nominations or leave while it was still early.
