Governor Kinuthia Mbugua under fire for “hijacking” Jubilee Party

Elected leaders and aspirants in Nakuru have accused Governor Kinuthia wa Mbugua of “hijacking” the Jubilee Party.

The leaders say Mr Mbugua claims to have been endorsed by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto, a move they say is misguided and might divide the party ahead of the 2017 elections.

Speaking in Nakuru, the leaders said they would not allow politics of endorsement in Jubilee, adding that everyone should battle it out in the nominations.

Led by Nakuru Town East MP David Gikaria, the leaders said Governor Mbugua had been masquerading as the Jubilee spokesman together with Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri and Nakuru Town West MP Samuel Arama yet the party had no officials yet.

Gikaria said it is unwelcome for Kinuthia to spread rumours despite there being no communication from the party headquarters on the mode of electing officials.

He said the move by the governor and the two leaders was misleading and that the president and his deputy have said they would support free and fair nominations.

“It is wrong for the governor and a section of leaders to claim they are leaders of Jubilee. This is misleading and as elected leaders, we shall not sit and watch him mislead party supporters,” said Gikaria.

He observed that Kinuthia, Arama and Ngunjiri should instead unite locals, aspirants and elected leaders and gather support for the party.

Subukia MP Nelson Gaichuhie said the governor and his cronies are misleading voters, calling on them to desist from imposing themselves as officials.

They accused the governor of holding private meetings in hotels and endorsing people as he seeks to gain support for his re-election bid.

Nakuru hawkers’ chairman Simon ole Nasieku said the president should warn the leaders to prevent them from causing divisions in the party.

Kinuthia could not be reached for comment as our calls were not responded to.