Jubilee makes leadership changes in Meru County assembly

Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni. [Denish Ochieng, Standard]

The Jubilee Party has named Naathu Ward MCA Joshua Mithiaru as its Whip in the Meru county assembly.

The party which has 10 ward representatives in the 69-member assembly said it had settled on Mithiaru, who is serving his second term, as its leader in the House.

The Deputy Speaker, Ali Mwenda who represents Njia Ward, was also elected on Jubilee ticket.

Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni, said that Jubilee, a member of Azimio coalition party, wants to affirms its standing in the assembly.

"The Jubilee Party has the swing vote within the current assembly and should avoid any issue or matter that brings disunity amongst you (MCAs)," Kioni said.

Kioni cautioned Jubilee members against disunity saying members of other parties in the assembly, that might take advantage of the wrangles to dislodge the deputy Speaker.

The party has convened a meeting for members, with the frosty relationship between the assembly and Executive being part of the agenda.

He challenged the deputy Speaker to protect Jubilee leaders.

"In the meantime, you (deputy Speaker) should ensure that none of our members is mistreated within the assembly because of partisan politics," Kioni said.

A section of MCAs, especially the 10 ward reps who opposed the impeachment of Governor Mwangaza, had expressed fears they would be kicked out of committees because of their position.

"As a party, we did not indicate to any of our Jubilee Party members within the assembly to vote for or against the impeachment motions of Governor Kawira Mwangaza. We left it to individual members to make their own choices," Kioni said.

Meru county Jubilee Chairman David Karithi who is former Tigania West MP, said the party was in the process of revamping its activities in the county.