Jubilee Party proposes strict vetting rules for candidates

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s new Jubilee Party has proposed new tough rules and stringent vetting measures for party candidates in the 2017 elections.

The new political entity, expected to be the President’s vehicle for the 2017 elections, has attracted competition for various top party positions, with affiliate parties scrambling to take charge of strategic offices.

TNA, URP, the Alliance Party of Kenya and members of the defunct New Ford-Kenya are angling for the strategic position of party secretary-general, creating anxiety in the party system.

The new party, interestingly, is proposing the creation of both pre- and post-election coalitions as well as mergers, despite plans to collapse 14 parties into a monolithic unit next month.

Those seeking the party’s ticket to contest elections and those aspiring to be listed for party nominations will be required to apply.

ELECTION BOARDS

Their applications will be vetted by the party’s national and county election boards.

Errant party members will not be tolerated, as the party's rules allow the expulsion of those associating with other political parties or propagating the ideologies of other political units.

“That every person listed on party list shall have applied for the positions,” reads part of the party’s nomination rules presented to President Kenyatta.

The party’s proposed election rules require candidates to submit a detailed curriculum vitae, a national identity card, a voter card and academic certificates, and compel them to sign an obligatory agreement before being cleared to run.

Though the national and county election boards would be in charge of the party’s electoral process, the National Executive Committee has been assigned veto powers, including disqualifying any candidate at will after the nomination.

“The National Executive Committee to have final veto power and selection power,” the party nomination rules declares.

DELEGATE CONVENTIONS

The co-chairman of the new party’s steering committee, Noah Wekesa, said the rules are meant to ensure order in the party and proper management of nominations.

“We are thinking of involving the electoral commission in our primaries to ensure fairness in the conduct of our party nominations,” said Mr Wekesa.

He said those who finish second in primaries will be offered nominations or public service jobs to ensure they remain in the party.

The party has proposed several organs, including the Jubilee Foundation, which will be in charge of resource mobilisation.

Some 31 organs will be in charge of managing various issues in the party.

Delegate conventions will now be staged at the constituency, county and national levels.