The Jubilee-ODM merger deal that could lead to an Uhuru-Raila 2022 coalition will have to wait longer after the ruling party suspended any coalitions talks with the Orange party.
President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee had kicked off coalition talks with Raila Odinga’s ODM to take on Deputy President William Ruto in the next general election.
However, the ruling party which has suffered losses in the recent by-elections in the country has decided to halt the merger plan to focus on revamping ahead of 2022.
According to reports, a crisis meeting of the Jubilee secretariat and MPs on Monday July 19 agreed to suspend the proposed deal with Raila over systemic challenges that could hurt the process.
Jubilee Party deputy secretary-general Joshua Kutuny who spoke to a local daily said that while the decision does not mean a total halt to the coalition plans, it will usher in fresh timeliness.
It has now emerged that the agenda dominated the meeting that was attended by at least 16 MPs, despite not being mentioned at a joint presser made on Monday.
It was resolved that it would be unhealthy for Jubilee to proceed with coalition talks with ODM at a time when it is battling internal revolt.
According to Jubilee joint secretary for the parliamentary group Adan Keynan, the party will instead focus on reorganising, restructuring and revamping its structures before entering into a coalition agreement.
The MP said given that DP Ruto’s camp had left for UDA, the loyal members whom he said are the majority will stabilise Jubilee.
Raila’s ODM had said it was focused on its coalition plans with Jubilee despite the ruling party’s loss in last week’s Kiambaa parliamentary by-election that was won by UDA.
United Democratic Alliance candidate Njuguna Wanjiku got 21, 773 votes to capture the seat, beating Jubilee’s Karuri Njama who garnered 21,263 votes.
