Nominations will make or break Jubilee Party, says Laboso

Jubilee governorship aspirants in Bomet County have warned the party against conducting nominations marred with irregularities, saying the primaries will either make or break the party.

In separate telephone interviews, National Assembly Deputy Speaker Joyce Laboso and former Konoin MP Julius Kones asked the party to use every machinery at its disposal to deliver a credible process.

All eyes will be on the Bomet Jubilee primaries because one of the two aspirants will be fronted by the party to battle with incumbent Isaac Ruto, who has quit Jubilee and set up the Chama Cha Mashinani (CCM) Party on whose ticket he will be seeking re-election.

“This exercise will be a make or break for the party as it will determine the future of the party in Bomet. The leadership of the party must not hold back any resources towards ensuring that that the primaries will be free and fair,” said Dr Kones.

WORK AS A TEAM

On the sticky issue of whether one of them will be willing to deputise the other, the two aspirants denied being asked by the party to work as a team in an effort to oust governor Ruto from office, but expressed willingness to discuss the issue afresh after the nominations.

Meanwhile, ODM has assured its supporters that they had put in place elaborate measures to guarantee a credible nominations.

Director of Political Affairs Opiyo Wandayi expressed confidence that the party nominations set for this month, will be free of any ugly incidents.
“ODM for the first time is more than prepared,” Mr Wandayi said on Sunday.

CONTROL SUPPORTERS

He challenged the aspirants to control their supporters, warning those who found fanning violence will be disqualified.

“Shun violence. Anybody instigating violence or engaging in any criminal activity will be subjected to the party’s disciplinary mechanisms and the law of the land,” the Ugunja MP said.

He defended the party against its decision to give out direct nominations, saying there was no need to keep aspirants who had no opposition, waiting.

“There is a misunderstanding. The certificates were issued to sole contestants. It was not a case of giving to a selected few and locking out others,” Mr Wandayi said.