Uhuru allies jostle for top jobs in new Jubilee Party

Allies of President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto are scrambling for positions in the newly unveiled Jubilee Party before its official launch next month.

Leaders of The National Alliance, United Republican Party, Alliance Party of Kenya and New Ford-Kenya are jostling for the top positions.

The party constitution provides for 21 top posts, including that of leader reserved for President Kenyatta and deputy party leader set aside for Mr Ruto.

Three deputy chairpersons will be in charge of operations, programmes and strategy, while the secretary-general will also have  three deputies for operations, programmes and strategy, among other functions.

Former Cabinet Minister Noah Wekesa, Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka and TNA Secretary-General Onyango Oloo are said to be positioning themselves for the secretary-general’s position, which is very influential as the incumbent will have direct contact with the party leader.

The secretary-general is the only party leader who can append his signature to nomination certificates for candidates, alongside the National Election Board chairperson.

Dr Wekesa on Wednesday said parties with significant sway in the new movement like New Ford-Kenya should be considered for the top positions.

“While the party constitution hands the mandate to the President, it would be politically good if leaders from areas where Jubilee has been fishing such as coast, western and Kisii are heavily represented. This will give their people a sense of belonging,” he said.

Leader of Majority Aden Duale has said sharing of positions must be based on the strength of parties in the last elections.

Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi, who co-chaired the committee coordinating the creation of the new party, said the outfits that had more votes in the last poll would be entitled to bigger positions.

He said the President and his deputy would appoint the interim officials to be unveiled next month.

But TNA chairman Johnson Sakaja said a technical team was already fine-tuning the list of interim officials.

“There is a formula and each of the 12 affiliate parties will get a slot in the National Executive Committee,” he said.

He denied that the parties were scrambling for top posts, saying the formula would be followed strictly.