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Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua has said Jubilee party secretary-general Raphael Tuju has no powers to suspend Deputy President William Ruto from the ruling party. [File, Standard]
Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua has dismissed the suspension of Deputy President William Ruto from the ruling Jubilee Party, terming it a joke.
Speaking on Saturday during a KTN News interview, Gachagua claimed Jubilee secretary-general Raphael Tuju was being used by ODM leader Raila Odinga to wreck the ruling party and cautioned him against disrespecting DP Ruto.
In a bare-knuckle attack, the MP said Tuju being an interim secretary-general has got no powers to suspend or recommend to any party organ to suspend Ruto from the party.
Gachagua, one of the staunch allies of Ruto said Tuju was brought in Jubilee for national appeal, but in real sense contributed nothing to the party.
“He was brought in Jubilee for a national appeal to make the Luo nation feel represented, but he is nothing in the party,” he said.
The lawmaker warned that if Tuju and his ilk continue to frustrate the DP and his allies, they will have no option but to walk out of the party and seek other alternatives.
“We will leave Jubilee empty ike we left Kanu in 2002 and it is still a shell up to today.”
On accusations that the DP had put the country on campaign mode against President Uhuru Kenyatta’s wish, Gachagua said everyone was campaigning, citing the BBI meetings.
“Everyone is campaigning including Raila camp through the BBI. People like (David) Murathe, (Francis) Atwoli hold BBI meetings,” he added.
On accusations that the DP was undermining President Uhuru, the legislator said going to the party headquarters cannot be equated to disrespect.
He reaffirmed his support for the DP, adding that they will move with him wherever he goes should the disrespect in the party continues.
“We are not outsiders in Jubilee, but we are not out of options if William (Ruto) leaves, we will follow him and Jubilee will become a shell,” said the MP.
Tuju on Friday told Ruto to keep off the ruling party headquarters over what he described as undermining President Uhuru, forming a parallel party office and starting early 2022 campaigns.
According to Tuju, the National Management Committee (NMC), an organ that sets the agenda for the National Executive Committee (NEC) has recommended to the removal of Ruto as deputy party leader for opening a parallel office, named Jubilee Asili.
The organ also barred Ruto from holding any political meetings at the party offices, declaring that the Pangani-based headquarters is out of bounds for his 2022 presidential ambitions.
Tuju described Ruto’s decision to host about 30 MPs at the offices on Thursday as an attempted power grab in the absence of President Uhuru, who has been away in France on an official visit.
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