Jubilee Alliance Party plans huge drive to grab Kajiado seat
President Uhuru Kenyatta hands the certificate of nomination to Kajiado Central Parliamentary candidate Patrick ole Tutui at the headquarters of the Jubilee Alliance Party in Nairobi on February 13, 2015. PHOTO | JENNIFER MUIRURI |
What you need to know:
- Battle lines drawn for next month’s by-election.
- ODM, fresh from Homa Bay victory, says it is ready to retain House seat.
MPs allied to the Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP) on Friday said they will start a marathon campaign next week in a bid to win the Kajiado Central Parliamentary seat.
The announcement came as ODM named a team to spearheaded campaigns for party candidate Memusi ole Kanchory, who ditched JAP after losing the primaries.
Kajiado Senator Peter ole Mositet, MPs Joseph Manje (Kajiado North) and Moses ole Sakuda (Kajiado West) said the Jubilee team was working on a strategy that would deliver a massive victory to the new party, represented by Patrick ole Tutui, in next month’s by-election.
The leaders dismissed claims that differences among local leaders, where some are said to be secretly campaigning for the opposition, will undermine the new party’s performance.
The leaders were among more than 50 MPs who attended a certificate presentation ceremony to the candidate at the party headquarters.
“We have a strong candidate and we have all agreed to support him,” Mr Mositet said.
He urged TNA and URP supporters in the constituency to back Mr Tutui to ensure the region was united under one political unit.
SHIFTED FOCUS
Mr Sakuda said he has been leading massive campaigns in the area to lure ODM supporters to the new party.
“We have had many ODM supporters decamping to the new party. This is a sign that the opposition will not find it easy in the by-election,” he said.
At the same time, ODM Director of Elections Junet Mohammed said the party had now shifted focus to Kajiado Central after clinching the Homa Bay senate seat.
“Our team led by Secretary-General Ababu Namwamba have been on the ground to mobilise support for our party and candidate. This was our seat and we are going to defend it,” Mr Mohammed said.
Candidates are expected to deliver nomination papers on February 16 and 17.
The seat fell vacant following the resignation of Maj-Gen (Rtd) Joseph ole Nkaissery to become Interior Cabinet Secretary.
The constituency has 39,545 registered voters.
