President Kenyatta receives Jubilee Party instruments

President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday received instruments of the Jubilee Party which will bring together parties belonging to the ruling coalition and their allies at State House.

The interim committee tasked with laying down the foundations for the new party presented to the president the party’s interim constitution, its nomination rules, its election rules and a members’ handbook.

Friday’s meeting at State House between the President, his Deputy William Ruto and the interim committee will be followed by the release of a road-map to fold up the constituent parties to culminate in the launch of Jubilee Party in September.

After receiving the party instruments, President Kenyatta said the new organisation will uphold democracy and the wish of Kenyans.

He said as a start, all party officials will hold positions on interim basis until the day members of the party decide who will hold such offices.

This was after the interim steering committee named President Kenyatta as the party leader and DP Ruto as the deputy party leader.

“Call me the interim party leader. It is the people who will decide who will be the party leader. This party will be democratic because that is the only way to guarantee its survival,” said the President.

President Kenyatta said he was happy to lead a party that has a truly national outlook.

“It is with pride that I accept leadership of a national party,” he stated

The president said the new party will unite Kenyans and champion stronger integration of the East African Community.

“A new child has been born to unite Kenyans and to grow the economy,” said the president.

The Head of State said the move to dissolve the smaller parties is a move to establish true national democracy.

“No longer shall we give Kenyans choices based on ethnicity, clanism or religion,” said President Kenyatta.

Deputy President William Ruto said it was President Kenyatta’s wish to dissolve the small parties and form a united front even before the 2013 elections.

“The greatest legacy you will leave for this country is to reset the political foundation of Kenya so that henceforth the politics of our country will be based not ethnic, not on region or faith but will be set on competition on the basis of issues, agenda ,manifesto and programs,” said the DP.

The co-chairs of the interim steering committee, Dr Noah Wekesa and Kiraitu Murungi, addressed the meeting before the president and his deputy were presented with the party documents.

Kiraitu said the new party will have enough national positions to accommodate all the new parties that will join.

He said contrary to some claims by sections of the media, there has been no jostling for positions in the new party.

The Meru senator said the party will be launched in a colourful manner that will be preceded by a synchronised national delegates Conference of all the joining parties to ratify their dissolution. The NDCs will then be followed by a national convention.