Giant Jubilee leaves door open to mergers

President Uhuru Kenyatta’s new Jubilee Party has introduced a clause in its constitution allowing coalitions and mergers, even as 14 political parties prepare to wind up and join the giant party.

The new party’s proposed constitution allows both pre-election and post-election mergers.

This comes amid intense lobbying for the party’s top influential positions.

The party’s proposed constitution and election rules presented to the President two weeks ago propose loaded structures, with 31 national organs, a mighty national executive committee and a powerful secretary-general.

The National Alliance, led by President Kenyatta, and the United Republican Party led by Deputy President William Ruto, are among the 14 parties expected to wind up before the end of this month to create the new party.

“The national executive committee may pass a resolution to enter into a pre-election coalition with any political party or parties,” reads part of article 32 of the party’s proposed constitution.

The party’s laws also permit post-election coalitions initiated by the national executive committee.

The constitution further states: “The post-election coalition shall be purely for purposes of addressing the parliamentary strength of the Jubilee Party in Parliament, or in the county assemblies.”

Designers of the new party and its strategists have been selling it as a monolithic entity devoid of mergers and coalitions. But Artcle 31 of the party’s proposed constitution says: “The national executive committee may pass a resolution to merge with any other political party or parties in the country where the merger involves the dissolution of other parties to join Jubilee.”

The Jubilee Party, whose motto will be “Tuko Pamoja”, also outlaws its members from promoting the activities of other parties. The penalty for offenders is termination of membership.

The party will have 21 offices at the party headquarters with an unlimited number of deputies to run its affairs.

The same will be replicated at the county, constituency, ward and polling centre levels all over the country. A position of Deputy National Chairpersons will also be created and could be used to create room for diversity, and to deal with gender and regional equations.

INTENSE LOBBYING

The posts of Party Leader and Deputy Party Leader are reserved for President Kenyatta and Mr Ruto, with the positions of national chairman, deputy national chairman, secretary- general, treasurer, organising secretary and executive director eliciting intense lobbying.

Meru Senator Kiraitu Murungi is said to be favoured for the position of national chairman, with Dr Noah Wekesa rooting for deputy national chairman. It is understood President Kenyatta is keen to have the party officials reflect a national image.

The Nation has learned that the powerful secretary-general post may go to either Bungoma Governor Ken Lusaka or nominated MP Johnson Sakaja, with the loser getting the organising secretary’s position. The treasurer’s post is reserved for Ford People.

GNU party is unlikely to get a substantive position since its leader, Mr Mwangi Kiunjuri, was appointed to the Cabinet.

Sources indicate that since the top positions will have three deputies each, that is where other leaders will be positioned. Executive directors and senior staff of the main parties will be absorbed by the Jubilee secretariat.

The co-chair of the working committee, Dr Wekesa, said preparations are at an advanced stage to register the new party.

“We have done the constitution and party rules. This party is designed to work for everyone. We will launch it at the end of next month,” he said.

He said the party has worked on proper election rules that will see fairness in management of election primaries.

“We are thinking of inviting the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) to run our nominations,” Dr Wekesa said.

He added that those who finish second in the party primaries at various levels will be offered public appointments if JP wins elections.

Meanwhile, the ODM director of elections said: “Why are they dissolving their parties yet are ready to create new coalitions and mergers after or before elections? The founders of this party are actual masters of dishonesty,” he said.

The Suna East MP further said the party’s laws appear to be contradicting the owners’ natural convictions, adding that a law outlawing association with other parties has been broken by “owners” of the new party on and off.

In its election rules, JP provides room for disqualification of candidates who admit, acknowledge or show allegiance or adherence to other parties.

The party’s secretary-general shall append his signature to all nomination certificates, making him significantly powerful.

But despite cascading electoral boards under the national elections board, the national executive committee can disapprove a certificate already issued to a candidate.