David Murathe resigns as Jubilee Vice-Chairman

Jubilee Party Vice-Chairman David Murathe has resigned from his position in the ruling party.

Announcing the unprecedented move on Sunday afternoon, Murathe said he cannot continue serving as Jubilee Vice-Chairman considering his bid to block Deputy President William Ruto from vying for presidency in 2022.

“I now find that it is no longer tenable to stay on as the party vice-chairman, given that I will have to sit in the same National Executive Council with a man I am taking to court to block from running for president,” he said.

Addressing the media in Nairobi, Murathe said he will be heading to the Supreme Court to seek interpretation on the deputy president’s term and whether a holder of the position can serve as president.

He stated that his statements against DP Ruto’s intention to succeed President Kenyatta are his personal views, adding that “I am not taking brief from anybody.”

“I stand by the statements I made, and they are my own views. We have diverse persons who share similar views as mine, we shouldn’t start insults,” said the former Gatanga Member of Parliament.

Murathe’s fierce opposition of DP Ruto’s presidential ambitions has heightened tension and widened division in the Jubilee Party.

Speaking at a public function in Vihiga County on Wednesday, December 26, Murathe dismissed Ruto’s 2022 presidential bid, saying there was no agreement that the Mount Kenya political bloc would support Ruto in the 2022 elections.

“We have no MoU with anyone that we will support them in 2022. If he has any deal with Uhuru Kenyatta, then that is an agreement between the two of them,” said Murathe referring to Ruto.

On Saturday, January 5, Murathe maintained that DP Ruto should not run for Presidency in 2022.

Murathe argues that there is no way that someone who has been a Deputy President for two terms would still want to become president of this country.

“In effect, if he automatically becomes president without going for the mandate from the mwananchi(citizen) then that is why 148 says you cannot run again. Na nitaenda mpaka Supreme Court. Sisi hatucheki na watu,” Murathe said while speaking at the burial of Jubilee Party Secretary General Raphael Tuju’s brother Kefa Oduor Tuju at Ralingo village in Rarieda Constituency.

According to Murathe, the Constitution is very clear that nobody can run for President or Deputy President for more than two terms.

He added that the presidency involves two people which means the two cannot run for either of the two posts after the completion of their two terms.

“If the President is not here, then who is President? Si ni deputy?” Murathe posed.

His remarks have been strongly condemned by supporters of the deputy president, with some Jubilee leaders calling for an overhaul of the party leadership through fresh elections.