Tuju at loggerheads with small parties over President Kenyattas supporter

Political Aspirants from small parties in Embu County have told off Jubilee Party Head of secretariat over remarks that the President’s Party does not recognize the small parties that are supporting his re-election bid.

Led by Maendeleo Chap Chap gubernatorial candidate Leonard Muriuki, the leaders said that the Jubilee Party does not own the President and thus should not purport to determine who supports him and who does not.

He said that President Kenyatta is loved and supported by all Kenyans regardless of tribe, religion, or political party affiliations and thus the statement by the Jubilee Party officials were reckless and uncalled for.

Muriuki said that it is the democratic right of every Kenyan to support a political party or a President of their choice, saying that such statements are only serving to dent the President’s re-election bid.

He said that the Jubilee Party itself is struggling to make inroads in opposition strongholds so as to boost the Presidents numbers, questioning the rationale of asking for votes across the country while discriminating other parties.

The youthful politician said that the electorate of the day does not care about the party that one is vying on but are very specific on the individual candidates who can serve them well.

However, in a quick rejoinder, Runyenjes Member of Parliament Cecily Mbarire has supported the move by the Jubilee Party to disown the small parties.

Mbarire who is vying for the Embu Gubernatorial seat on a Jubilee Party ticket said that the aim of merging all the small parties to form Jubilee was to bring unity and end tribalism thus supporting the small parties would mean going back to tribal groupings.

She said that Jubilee Party was formed as a long term political party and not a party to win elections and fade away, noting that the President needs numbers in Parliament and not from small parties who will black mail him to pass laws.

Mbarire said that most of those who have defected from Jubilee to other small parties have done so out of fear of competition, adding that they are only seeking direct nominations so as they can be on the ballot.

She said that the President and his deputy have made important strides in bringing unity in the country, and thus those moving out of Jubilee should stop dragging the President behind.