Why These Jubilee Politicians Want to Stop UhuRuto Party Launch

A section of politicians affiliated to the United Republican Party (URP) has threatened to stop the Jubilee Party launch that will be presided by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto on Saturday.

According to the leaders from Nakuru County led by area URP Chairman Joshua Rotich, their names had been removed from the list of delegates set to attend the event and replaced with those of persons not bonafide members of the merging party.

"We are the only party among those merging that held election and names of officials submitted to the headquarters. The officials elected are the ones to be on the list of delegates," Rotich was quoted by the Standard.

Mr Rotich said that the original list had 20 names and 11 out of the list has been changed under mysterious circumstances.

They accused the party's secretary General Fred Muteti and the Executive Director David Koech of presenting an altered list to the Registrar of Political Parties Lucy Ndung'u.

The over ten officials camped at URP Headquarters on Monday and threatened to use legal means to stop the merger or even shift from the party if the issue was not rectified.

"Both the President and his Deputy has assured us that the nominations will be free and fair but the way things are being done including altering the list of delegates is bringing fears to us," said Rotich.

Former Kuresoi MP James Koskei, who accompanied Rotich and others, urged Ruto to intervene and resolve the matter. Koskei accused a TNA official from the county of doctoring the list of officials set to attend the grand launch.

"We are aware that there is a sitting TNA official who has interfered with the list. The name of his driver and bodyguard are appearing in the list. I want to request the DP to help resolve this matter so that we can start on the right footing," said Mr Koskei.

However, URP secretary General Muteti denied the claims and said Rotich had shifted allegiance to another party.

"The list we have is the official list of delegates and we have not altered any list. Mr Rotich was in URP but we learnt that he joined Chama Cha Mashinani," said Muteti.