Elections 2017NewsPolitics
Embu Jubilee officials dare disgruntled aspirants to defect
Interim Jubilee officials in Embu County have dared disgruntled aspirants for various political seats to ditch the party instead of fanning internal conflicts over the forthcoming nominations.
Led by interim chairman Elias Kathiga, the officials sought to allay claims that some favoured candidates had already obtained direct tickets to run for various seats after employing clandestine tactics at the Jubilee Party headquarters in Nairobi, saying this was cowardly propaganda.
The chairman stated that it was better for the party to lose some of its members and remain peaceful than harbouring numerous candidates who would destabilize the party from within through endless tussles over dissatisfaction in the leadership hierarchy.
Speaking after meeting aspirants for all elective seats in the county, the interim officials reaffirmed their commitment to serve the party fairly without discriminating against any candidate and called upon those discontented with the Jubilee leadership to refocus their energies to voter registration.
They unanimously denounced the on-going political squabbles over control of the party leadership, saying their main assignment from the party headquarters was to ensure voter registration targets for Embu County were met before the Interim Electoral and Boundaries Commission closed the exercise.
On his part, County Jubilee Interim Secretary General Johnston Nyaga blasted a group led by former Cooperatives Minister Njeru Ndwiga for claiming that there were plans by Embu County Assembly Speaker Kariuki Mate to rig Embu nominations in favour of Runyenjes MP Cecily Mbarire.
Nyaga trashed the allegations as sensational, alarmist and meant to heighten tension amongst aspirants. He also warned the faction that enjoys the support of Governor Martin Wambora and Senator Lenny Kivuti against attempts to act as the party’s human resource department by purporting to vet members of its national secretariat.
Water Trust Fund Chairman Geoffrey Ruku who is aspiring for the Embu Senatorial seat said any candidates who had identified themselves with the party should either be ready to support the party even after losing in nominations or leave while it was still early.
Ruku said some of the candidates who had expressed fears over fairness in the party primaries and discomfort with its leadership were only worried due to their waning popularity. He said most aspirants had confidence that nominations would be free and fair and would not defect even after losing.
The interim officials said they had launched an ambitious two-week voter mobilization drive which would require all aspirants to go down to the grassroots to ensure every eligible voter was registered before the end of the voter listing exercise on February 14th.
