Kivuti leaves Jubilee, complains of favouritism

Embu Senator Lenny Kivuti has defected to Maendeleo Chap Chap party, citing perceived favouritism in Jubilee Party.

He said Jubilee Party (JP) had openly showed bias and continually declined to listen to other leaders' complaints.

Speaking after meeting over 1,200 leaders from the county, Mr Kivuti said the failure by JP to absorb leaders appointed by him and the various aspirants had cast doubt on the party’s intention to hold free and fair nominations.

Mr Kivuti said they would formally defect on Monday.

Addressing his supporters at Kanyuambora market in Mbeere North, the senator however said he would continue supporting President Uhuru Kenyatta’s re-election bid.

Various leaders who addressed the gathering appealed to Mr Kivuti to defect, saying they were not accommodated in Jubilee.

“Jubilee Party is not adhering to the Constitution. We can sense that the party elections will not be free and fair and have to move. People of Embu and those affiliated to Mr Kivuti will move en masse,” Mbeere North MP Muriuki Njagagua said.

Also, Deputy Governor Dorothy Nditi declared that since people had already made the decision, the Senator had no choice but to leave.

Nthawa MCA Ngare Makenge observed that Mr Kivuti's exit will dent the party because he had contributed a lot in developing it.