I’m not Jubilee project, Jirongo says as he plans party launch

UDP leader Cyrus Jirongo whoa has denied claims that he is being used by the Jubilee administration to destabilise the opposition in Western Kenya. FILE PHOTO | NATION MEDIA GROUP

What you need to know:

  • Mr Jirongo will next week unveil his party in Vihiga and its candidate for the county’s governorship.
  • Western region is struggling to contain some leaders who are supporting President Uhuru Kenyatta.
  • Some Amani leaders have accused Mr Jirongo of being used by Jubilee to destabilise the opposition.

United Democratic Party (UDP) leader Cyrus Jirongo has denied claims that he is being used by the Jubilee administration to divide the Opposition in Western Kenya.

Supporters of Amani National Congress (ANC) leader Musalia Mudavadi have accused Mr Jirongo of fighting the opposition National Super Alliance (Nasa).

Mr Jirongo will next week unveil his party in Vihiga and its candidate for the county’s governorship.

Mr Jirongo said he is not a Jubilee project, noting that his party will join Nasa if a Luhya is picked as its flag bearer for the presidency.

“Those who have been in Jubilee all along are known,” he said.

“I am waiting for Nasa to either pick Musalia or Wetang’ula and I will support [them], if not I will ran (for the presidency) myself,” said Mr Jirongo.

The region, largely seen as an opposition bedrock, is struggling to contain some leaders who are supporting President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Some of the Jubilee leaders from Western include Bugoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka, MPs Ben Washiali (Mumias East) Ben Shinali (Ikolomani) and Emmanuel Wangwe (Navakholo).

Last Friday, Vihiga branch ANC chairman Julius Sikalo led other branch officials in terming the re-emergence of UDP in the region as a ploy by the ruling Jubilee party “to use Mr Jirongo to fight Mudavadi”.

“Supporters of UDP are now running up and down in this county claiming they will only support Nasa if Mudavadi is picked as the presidential candidate,” Mr Sikalo said.

“They should stop lying to our supporters. UDP is being used by Jubilee to fight Mudavadi. It has received sponsorship from Jubilee to destabilise our politics,” he added.