Tuju dismisses DP Rutos claims on Jubilee Party leadership changes

Jubilee Party Secretary General Raphael Tuju has dismissed claims by Deputy President William Ruto that there was an attempt to institute illegal changes to the party’s leadership.

DP Ruto claimed that the names Gazetted by the Office of Registrar of Political Parties on Friday as new members of the National Management Committee of Jubilee Party had been “fraudulently” and “illegally” picked.

“As Kenyans are focused on the Covid-19 pandemic, some shadowy characters are attempting to fraudulently institute illegal changes in officials of Jubilee party. As deputy leader I have alerted the registrar of the fraud. Party members should know that the matter is being handled,” said Ruto in a tweet.

Tuju, however, says the new names were picked way before the coronavirus outbreak and were necessitated by the departure of some party officials at different times in the last one year.

“The much-talked about additions were made long before the coronavirus menace visited us. What was filed by the Party last month to comply with March 31st deadline were normal yearly returns that are required by law in terms of changes of office bearers, signatories to the accounts and any other material issues that the register may require by law,” said Tuju.

“As stated in some media interviews these were additions necessitated by the departure of some of officials at different times in the last one year apart from one instance where two officials were from one county. Another addition was of the current Executive Director who replaced the previous official who became a Chief Administrative Secretary.”

In the statement Tuju further called out a section of Jubilee leaders for taking to social media to lament over the changes.

“The only matter of concern is that the social media was supposedly chosen by some leaders to air their grievances while they do have at their disposal other internal channels of communication. We say supposedly because what we have seen in the social media may have come from some false or parody accounts of such high-ranking individuals,” added the statement.

“Some of those high-ranking individuals are on record as having always advised or insisted that internal Party matters should strictly be settled using the Party internal dispute resolution mechanisms.”

Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen also criticized the changes saying he had presented his objection to the registrar of political parties and would report the matter to the DCI.

“Today I have performed my patriotic duty as Jubilee Member and a member of Jubilee’s Natio Exec Committee, NGC and NDC to avert fraudulent changes on the party’s national management committee (NMC). I have written a letter to the registrar and will soon report this matter to DCI,” said Murkomen.

Tuju now says that the party is awaiting the official communication from the Registrar on the said protests and we will respond.

DP Ruto further claims President Uhuru Kenyatta, who is also the Jubilee Party leader, was not involved in the said party changes, remarks that have since been dismissed by the Party Vice Chairman David Murathe

“The President & party leader of Jubilee Party did not and cannot be party to any fraudulent and illegal changes to officials of our party. This is the works of political rejects, conmen and fraudsters who’s party allegiance is already elsewhere. They should give us a break and leave Jubilee Party alone,” said Ruto.

The new names picked to the Jubilee Party NMC include Lucy Nyawira Macharia, Prof. Marete Marangu, Walter Nyambati, Jane Nampaso and Mr James Waweru. They are to take over from Veronica Maina, Fatuma Shukri and Pamela Mutua.