Former Jubilee Party Secretary-General Raphael Tuju has been appointed the Executive Director of Raila Odinga’s Azimio One Kenya Coalition campaign secretariat.
Through a statement, Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) secretariat Communications Director, Dennis Onyango, said Tuju assumes the role with immediate effect.
Tuju will coordinate all member parties of Azimio and will lead the strategic and programmes teams that will work to ensure Azimio victory in the August elections.
“A communication specialist by training, Tuju has decades of experience in politics and government, having served as member of Parliament, Cabinet Minister and Jubilee Party Secretary General.
“The Azimio Coalition party brings together over 20 political parties with diverse regional strengths, opinions and a myriad of leadership that represent the face of Kenya,” the statement read.
Tuju formally relinquished his position in President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Cabinet as well as the ruling Jubilee Party, where he served as Secretary General, on February 26.
He said he was off to pursue what he termed other political engagements.
“In January, I went to President Uhuru Kenyatta to ask for permission to exit his Cabinet because of my other ambitions.
We didn’t make the announcement then but I stopped being a member of his Cabinet so as to comply with other regulations,” Tuju, who was appointed CS without portfolio in 2018, said.
He said he would hand over his duties as the party’s Secretary General to a new person, saying he would not be able to juggle through his many responsibilities while at the same time pursuing his political aspirations. Jeremiah Kioni took over as Jubilee Party’s secretary general.
President Uhuru Kenyatta, who was presiding over the convention, expressed gratitude to Tuju for his services and pleaded with Raila to assist him should he harbour political ambitions.