Jubilee MPs – who were joined by their colleagues from ODM, Wiper and ANC – dared embattled Deputy President William Ruto to quit the governing party and form his own campaign vehicle ahead of the 2022 General Election.
Maina Kamanda (Nominated), Joshua Kutuny (Cherangany), Peter Mwathi (Limuru), Paul Koinange (Kiambaa), Wambugu Ngunjiri (Nyeri), Maoka Maore (Igembe North) and Mercy Gakuya (Kasarani) said they would not allow the party to be demonised because of the actions of a few.
“Time has now come for us to do away with Murkomen and replace him with someone else. You cannot be the Jubilee-appointed Senate majority leader and keep hurling insults at the party leader who is President Uhuru Kenyatta,” said Mr Kutuny.
Jubilee MPs joined up with opposition MPs Robert Mbui (Kathiani), Sam Atandi (Alego Usonga), Caleb Hamisi (Saboti), Godfrey Osotsi (Nominated) and Anthony Oluoch (Mathare) at Joyous Celebration Church in Limuru. Mr Oluoch dismissed claims by Ruto’s allies that ODM leader Raila Odinga was using last year’s ‘handshake’ to rock Jubilee. He instead accused the DP of fighting the unity deal between Uhuru and Raila.
“If it has come to a point where you cannot respect this Government then leave and go form your own party and start the journey for the 2022 General Election,” said Oluoch. Separately in Nairobi, a group of ODM MPs said the country was united in the fight against graft and warned that they would take ‘drastic action’ against the DP.
“We now know you are an impediment to the war against corruption. If this continues, we will bring an impeachment motion against Ruto,” Mr Abuor said.
But Ruto, who was speaking during the thanksgiving ceremony of Ainamoi MP Sylvanus Maritim, told Raila to return to the opposition benches and wait for the 2022 presidential duel.