President Uhuru Kenyatta roots for Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP) in race to 2017 elections

President Uhuru Kenyatta has signalled his determination to contest for a second term in the 2017 polls under the Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP).

The President’s assertion is the strongest indication yet that both The National Party (TNA) and United Republican Party (URP) might be on their deathbed as individual entities. President Uhuru’s TNA and Deputy President William Ruto’s URP are the main parties in the governing coalition, although there are other smaller parties like Alliance Party of Kenya (APK), New Ford Kenya and Grand National Union.

President Uhuru Kenyatta interacts with Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP) leaders when he hosted a delegation at State House, Mombasa, yesterday. [PHOTO: PSCU)

The merger of the parties to form JAP has been facing resistance from some leaders within the ranks of the governing coalition. In the Rift region, for example, whereas URP politicians have been putting on brave faces in public, in private, they are at pains to reassure their people that dismantling their ‘home’ to join JAP will not backfire on them some day.

President Kenyatta’s new political outfit has also met strong opposition in the vote-rich Meru region from some APK leaders led by Meru Governor Peter Munya. Munya likened the idea to taking the country back to the dark days of single party rule.

But yesterday, President Kenyatta said parties that are now part of Jubilee Coalition should start gearing up to join JAP. He spoke when he met 300 Jubilee delegates from Mombasa and tipped them on how to ensure a smooth transition to JAP. The President said the best way is to share JAP leadership positions among political parties that comprise the alliance.

 MPs' rivalry

“Officials of every branch should comprise leaders from all the parties that make the main party,” said the President.

He urged the delegates to attract more supporters for the party and not to oppose the inclusion of people from other parties in government.

The DP has also been vocal about JAP. However, the outfit has faced resistance especially from URP leaders led by Bomet Governor Isaac Ruto and Kuresoi South MP Zakayo Cheruiyot, who have insisted on holding on to their party.

And the quiet rebellion has caught up with TNA, where rivalry between MPs and governors and their opponents  tussling for leadership of new JAP offices is gaining ground.

“We have good faith and that is why we give jobs to people from other parties,” the Head of State said, adding: “Politics is a game of numbers and every politician should understand there is no other route to winning an election but more votes.”

The President asked the delegates to take a responsibility in ensuring that the economy of Mombasa is turned around. He said Mombasa’s economy is also important for the success of Kenya and the whole region. “If Mombasa succeeds, the whole country will succeed and the whole region will benefit because the county is the gateway to the whole region,” he said.

President Kenyatta also asked leaders from the region to help women and youth succeed in getting government tenders.

He said the first step is to educate women and youth on the processes to follow in tendering for contracts.

He also told those in charge of ministries and other government agencies to ensure women and youth are awarded their rightful share of State tenders.