Jubilee postpones coalition retreat

The Jubilee coalition retreat initially set for Wednesday has been postponed indefinitely.

The meeting had been scheduled to take place one month after the opposition coalition, Cord, held theirs in Naivasha.

It was meant to discuss the overall performance of the ruling alliance that brings TNA and URP parties together with their affiliates.

Talking to the Nation, Majority leader in the National Assembly Adan Duale said the decision was informed by the fact that both President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto would not be available on that particular day.

“As the key leaders of Jubilee, we want them to attend. We therefore deemed it fit to postpone the retreat to such a day that they will find time to be with us,” he said.

The retreat, Mr Duale said is being organised by the parliamentary liaison committee being coordinated by the presidency.

“We want to take stock of what we have achieved so far with the aim of doing even better.”

His counterpart at the Senate Kithure Kindiki said they want to have the retreat before Mr Kenyatta gives a state of the Nation address to Parliament which is supposed to happen any time after next week.

It is expected that wrangling which has been witnessed in the President’s party TNA, is among issues that would be discussed.

There is a serious push by leaders coalescing around MP Moses ole Sakuda who want nominated MP Johnson Sakaja the party chairman and the Secretary General Onyango Oloo to give way accusing them of financial impropriety.

A government that is experiencing economic tough times, the Jubilee has proposed drastic measures like pay cuts among senior civil servants to make it fund its programmes. The move is also likely to make the regime unpopular.

Its promise to give laptops to school going children has also hit a procurement snag.