MPs seek law change to shield Uhuru, Ruto

The law on political parties will have to be changed to avoid putting the President and his deputy in a legal quandary when the Jubilee Coalition parties they were elected under are dissolved.

These were among resolutions made by Jubilee members at a meeting in State House, Nairobi on Tuesday.

The Political Parties Act makes it possible for a party to be dissolved mid-term and allows elected representatives to continue serving in the new one for the rest of the term.

In November, Narok North MP Moitalel ole Kenta warned  that a merger would create a legal crisis for the President, his deputy and the governors.

He said elected representatives can move into a merged party but this is risky for the national and county executives.

“There is no mention on  the fate of the President, Deputy President or Governors should they switch parties mid-term,” he added.

An MP who attended the State House meeting told the Nation this change would be made ahead of the formation of the new party.

The Justice and Legal Affairs Committee, which is dominated by the Jubilee Coalition, is expected to deal with the matter.

But the Opposition could throw hurdles on its path as it serves the ruling coalition’s interests.

On Wednesday Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi said the main theatre of operations for the anticipated party will be the counties.

“Every county is going to have its party leader, deputy party leader and a chairman.

“It will be their business to articulate the issues for the people at the grassroots within their counties,” said Mr Murungi.

The party would still have national level officials and an election board, whose job would be to create a policy for the party to have free and fair nominations at the county level while also acting as an appeals body.

While President Kenyatta and Mr Ruto had at the Parliamentary Group retreat late January impressed upon MPs the idea for the formation of the Jubilee Alliance Party, the MPs never really warmed up to it.