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More Jubilee MPs Quietly Backing Imran in Kibra Mini Polls

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Jubilee nominated MP Maina Kamanda has said many more MPs from the ruling party are willing to support Raila Odinga-led ODM party candidate in forthcoming Kibra mini polls Bernard Imran Okoth.

Kamanda said this is in the spirit of Uhuru and Raila’s handshake, suggesting the divisions in the ruling party over the by-election were far from over.

Kamanda on Thursday joined Raila at a meeting to endorse the candidature of Okoth – a day after the Jubilee candidate, McDonald Mariga, was endorsed by President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“You will see other MPs come out to support Imran because of the peace we have witnessed as a country. I am here as a person, not representing anybody,” said Kamanda.

He stressed that his support was a show of appreciation for the easing of tensions due to the truce between Uhuru and Raila.

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Politics

Reprieve For Mariga as he Wins, Again

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Political parties’ tribunal court chairperson, Kyalo Mbobu has dismissed an application by Morris Peter Kinyanjui seeking to stop Jubilee candidate McDonald Mariga from flying the ruling party’s flag in the upcoming Kibra mini-poll.

Kinyanjui lost the Jubilee Party ticket to Mariga, a move which left him accusing the ruling party of rigging him out of the race.

Kinyanjui, thereafter, filed a petition in court on Tuesday, September 17, seeking to block Mariga from representing Jubilee in the Kibra race.

But now, the political parties’ tribunal court chairperson, Kyalo Mbobu, says the avenue in which Kinyanjui filed his petition was wrong.  Mbobu says the court has no jurisdiction, whatsoever, to hear the matter.

The court said that the Jubilee Party candidate’s nomination certificate has already been accepted by the electoral board, IEBC.

The court, therefore, advised Kinyanjui to look for remedy elsewhere.

In an application filed by the complainant at the political parties tribunal on September 17, Kinyanjui said Jubilee failed to conduct party nominations as required by law and their Party’s Constitution

The complainant argued that Mariga’s nomination as the Jubilee Party candidate was illegal and constitutes violation of his rights.

He said he was invited through a text message for an interview at the Jubilee Party headquarters in Pangani, Nairobi, an interview, he claims, was used to check the suitability and qualifications of candidates.

The Kibra by-election is scheduled for November 7.

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Politics

Reconciled- Jubilee Candidates to back Mariga

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Jubilee candidates in the just concluded nominations have allegedly reconciled and vowed to support soccer star McDonald Mariga in November 7 Kibra parliamentary race.

The candidates had threatened to support the opposition candidate in the upcoming by-elections arguing that Mariga had been rigged in during the Monday nominations.

But taking to social media on Thursday, Statehouse employee Dennis Itumbi who currently works at Deputy President Dr William Ruto revealed that the candidates had reconciled and vowed to back Mr Mariga.

Mariga has been rumored to have been imposed on Jubilee by DP Ruto.

One of the candidates Mr Morris Peter Kinyanjui who had protested Mariga’s selection said the selection was “not only unfair, deceptive and shrouded in secrecy but also contrary to the provisions of the Jubilee Party constitution.

In his petition to Jubilee Secretary-General Raphael Tuju that was received on September 3, Mr Kinyanjui stated that Article 11 of the party’s constitution provides for “open, free, fair and transparent nomination in national and county elections through consensus, secret ballot or through the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC)”.

He further said: “Not only was there no nominations conducted, the board “arrogated upon itself powers it does not have to conduct the aforesaid selection, and even then they did not feel it right to inform the aspirants.”

Since Itumbi alleges that the candidates have reconciled, Mariga will now face ODM candidate who will be nominated on Saturday September 7 through ballot, ANC’s Eliud Owalo and Ford Kenya’s Eng. Khamisi Butichi.

The Kibra MP seat fell vacant following the demise of Ken Okoth who succumbed to cancer in July.

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Jubilee MPs open up on how Mariga was imposed on the party by Ruto

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

A section of Jubilee Party MPs has broken silence on the ongoing debate on McDonald Mariga’s ticket in the upcoming November 7 Kibra by-elections.

The soccer star was given a direct Jubilee ticket on Monday evening. But according to a section of leaders from the party, Mariga has been imposed on the party by Deputy President Dr William Ruto.

MPs Maina Kamanda (nominated) and Moses Kuria (Gatundu South) on Tuesday said they would back Opposition Chief Raila Odinga’s ODM candidate in the poll set for November 7.

Mr Kamanda said he would not allow Deputy President William Ruto to ruin the peace brought by the handshake between Raila and President Uhuru Kenyatta with his “selfish political interests”.

Mariga on Monday denied claims that his decision to vie for the seat was influenced by Dr Ruto.He said he had sought the advice of people close to him before deciding to throw his hat in the Kibra by-election ring.

Kamanda yesterday dismissed the former footballer’s assertions, saying Ruto was using him as a pawn in his quest to face off with Raila in Kibra.

“The candidate Jubilee Party picked has been imposed on the party by Ruto. He is Ruto’s candidate and not Jubilee’s. I am for a candidate who will be announced by ODM,” said Kamanda.

He questioned Ruto’s keenness on having a candidate in Kibra, even after Jubilee decided not to field any in Ugenya, Migori and Embakasi South for the sake of the handshake.

As a result, the leaders have vowed to support the opposition in the upcoming by-elections.

Mr Kuria said Mariga was not suited to represent Kibra. He vowed to throw his weight behind Benson Musungu should ODM settle on him.

Kuria said Mr Musungu had lived in the sprawling informal settlement and understood it, adding that the handshake had freed them to support any candidate irrespective of the party.Nairobi Senator Johnson Sakaja was also cagey on who intended to back in the Kibra by-election.

He said he had hoped Jubilee would back an ODM candidate to continue the late Ken Okoth’s legacy in Kibra.“I had asked my party to back a candidate from ODM, but that request was declined. What I can say is that Kibra needs a good leader who can continue what Ken started,” said Mr Sakaja.

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Politics

‘Kibra itakunyoa bila Maji na Sabuni,’ KOT tell Mariga as Kibra race hots up

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

The Kibra parliamentary race is really hotting up after President Uhuru Kenyatta-led Jubilee party settled on soccer star McDonald Mariga as their candidate in the November 7 by-elections.

Barely hours after Mariga was given a direct ticket on Monday, Kenyans have taken to social media to weigh into his candidature.

According to Mariga, he wants to become the Kibra MP because he was born and raised in the area, but Kenyans on twitter have not failed to buy his idea.

They are now accusing him of being someone’s project, an idea that Mariga has refuted.

They are claiming that he was not born and raised in Kibra as he claims.

Activist Boniface Mwangi claims that Mariga is a project of Jubilee and Betin, a gaming and gambling company, which he has been severally used to advertise.

Newspaper columnist Gabriel Oguda has argued that Deputy President William Ruto rigged in MacDonald Mariga “who has no political clout, simply because Mariga represents Ruto’s betting firm.”

Others have argued that Kibra is and will always be a Raila Odinga’s zone citing that someone is trying to ruin Mariga’s football career.

They have argued that Mariga has done nothing fruitful to Kibra people throughout his successful football career.

“Kibra is and will always be a Baba Zone. Take your logic to the bank and tell me how much you can get. Now, Mariga… is someone trying to ruin him or just eat his money? Someone tell me, what this guy has ever done with all his millions? Kibra itamnyoa bila Maji na Sabuni,” tweeted one of the twitter users.

Do you think Mariga will win the November 7 by-elections against ODM and ANC candidates?

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Politics

Mariga makes triumphant entry to Jubilee Headquarters ahead of interview( Watch Video)

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Soccer Star McDonald Mariga on Monday morning made a grand entry at Jubilee party’s headquarter in Pangani, Nairobi.

Mariga is among 16 aspirants who will be interviewed today for the Jubilee Party ticket to contest the Kibra parliamentary seat as focus now shifts to the elections board.

Mariga was escorted by a group of his supporters who carried placards bearing his name and Jubilee logo.

The supporters sang songs praising the player in luhyia’s famous Isukuti dance.

Some were heard singing “Mariga tukomboe”, which barely translates to Mariga save us.

If cleared, Mariga will be Jubilee Party candidate for Kibra constituency by-election scheduled for November 7.

He will face off ODM candidate who will be decided after the September 7 nominations, Musalia Mudavadi’s ANC Party’s Eliud Owalo and Moses Wetang’ula’s Ford Kenya candidate who is not yet to be unveiled.

The Kibra seat fell vacant following the demise of Ken Okoth who succumbed to cancer.

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Politics

Kriss Darlin reveals how Jubilee candidate will help him win Kibra race

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Kibra parliamentary hopeful on the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket Christone Odhiambo alias Kriss Darlin now says that he is ready to battle it out with anyone.

This comes amid possibilities that the ruling Jubilee Party could as well present a candidate in a bid to snatch the seat which has for years belonged to the Orange party.

Speaking on Wednesday evening, the deejay said that he is ready to battle it out with a Jubilee candidate, daring the President Uhuru Kenyatta-led side to join the race.

Confident of a nomination, in an interview on Radio Jambo’s Mazungumzo Waziwazi, he predicted that the introduction of a Jubilee candidate will make it even easier for him.

“Jubilee fielding a candidate will be even more helpful, they are welcome (Jubilee kuleta mtu itanisaidia zaidi, nawakaribisha),” he said.

On the other hand, he called upon the ODM to hold free and fair nominations, in a party that has repeatedly seen its primaries married with confusion and at times violence.

He declared his readiness to support whoever wins the party ticket, provided that the exercise is credible.

“If we lose in a free and fair way we will accept the outcome and back the winner (Tukishindwa na tuone ni free and fair tutakubali na tumuunge yule ameshinda),” he added.

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Politics

Uhuru’s Jubilee to field a candidate in Kibra by-elections

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

President Uhuru Kenyatta-led Jubilee Party has declared it will field a candidate in the November 7 Kibra by-election. The Party’s Secretary-General Raphael Tuju has asked interested candidates to apply for the ticket.

The Kibra Parliamentary seat fell vacant following the demise of Ken Okoth.

The Raila Odinga-led Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) will on Saturday August 31, 2019 hold its nominations ahead of the Kibra Member of Parliament by-election.

Mr Odinga made the announcement on Sunday at a rally in Kibra in which he also revealed that at least 26 aspirants will battle it out for the party ticket.

Among those expected to seek the ODM ticket in the race include: Benson Musungu (ODM National Youth Coordinator), Imran Okoth (late MP Ken Okoth brother and PA), Reggae DJ Kriss Darlin, Sigar Agumba, Peter Orero (Dagoretti High School Principal), and Ochieng Jera.

Former Embakasi South MP Irshad Sumra, who was earlier reported to have also been seeking the party ticket, however said “I am not in the race” adding that “I only came because I support Kibra and I love Kibra.”

Mr. Odinga’s daughter Rosemary Odinga who was also in attendance joined Mr. Sumra saying she would also not be in the race.

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Politics

VIDEO: Powerful European MP who aided UhuRuto’s re-election spills the beans

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

2017 goes down in Kenya’s history as the year that not only had presidential election results cancelled, but also marred with irregularities.

NASA leader Raila Odinga complained of the elections, with him even boycotting the October 26, 2017 repeat polls in protest of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission that had conducted the disputed polls.

Cambridge Analytica was accused of aiding President Uhuru Kenyatta’s re-election.

Channel 4 news has exposed a British Member of the European Parliament Alexandra Phillips who secretly worked for Uhuru’s Jubilee Party in 2017 polls.

Phillips admitted to the media house that she secretly worked for Jubilee.

“I wasn’t working for Jubilee I was employed by Cambridge Analytica who had the contract with Jubilee. I was brought on as a political communications consultant for the Kenya project,” Channel 4 News quotes her as saying.

Phillips was elected as a Member of the European Parliament for the South East England constituency at the European Parliament elections of May 2019. 

Phillips told Channel 4 News that her work was “so sentitive” that whenever someone asked what she was doing she would respond that she was “a air hostess”.

She is quoted saying that she helped in writing President Uhuru Kenyatta’s speeches and shaping the messaging by State House team.

“I’d be writing the president’s speeches and his talking points for rallies and State House statements. I trained their communications team; they’re all sort of journalists who came together to create a press office. So I had to train them up and daily management of that communications team,” she is quoted as having said.

State House and the Jubilee Party have previously denied that Cambridge Analytica was ever contracted to work in Kenya during the elections.

In response to a similar revelation last year, former Jubilee Party Vice-Chairman David Murathe said that had paid for “branding” in the 2017 presidential election from SCL, affiliate of consultancy Cambridge Analytica.

“They were basically branding and all that but not directly,” Murathe said at the time.

According to Channel 4, Phillips sent them a statement stating that; “In Kenya, I worked as a freelance contractor — focusing on speechwriting – with the team of President Kenyatta, who is a great ally of the UK. The campaigns I worked on promoted peace and national unity in a country that I love dearly.”

She also added that this work was sub-contracted out to her by SCL, which went on to become a different company.

“Out of respect for those whom I served, I will continue to respect the confidentiality agreements that I signed upon accepting the role in Kenya. And I will not be bullied by agenda-driven, guilt-by-association reporting,” Phillips said.

Watch video here Courtesy of Channel 4 news.

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Politics

Jubilee MP accuse Ruto of weakening Uhuru’s government

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

A Jubilee lawmaker belonging to Kieleweke faction has accused Deputy President William Ruto of fighting’ the government in public podiums like he was in the opposition.

The Nyeri Township MP Ngunjiri Wambugu says Ruto is weakening President Uhuru Kenyatta’s government.

“Governments are not popular. However those who publicly attack a government are those who want it to lose favor with the public, and become illegitimate. This is usually done by the opposition so as to weaken the government in power in readiness to beat them at elections and take over,”

In a Facebook post on Sunday, Wambugu said it was no longer a secret that the DP and his allies in the Tanga Tanga group were out to weaken Uhuru’s administration following their sustained attacks on people he (Uhuru) appointed to help him deliver on his election pledges.

Ruto’s team has been calling for resignation of three Cabinet Secretaries led by Peter Munya of Trade and a number of Principal Secretaries including Interior’s Karanja Kibicho over claims they were planning to eliminate the DP.

“They are attacking Cabinet Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, and now the ruling party’s Secretary General! Clearly they want to weaken the government – why?” the first-time MP posed.

He made the remarks moments after Ruto launched an attack on Jubilee Party Secretary-General Raphael Tuju claiming he has shifted his loyalty from the ruling party to the opposition.

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Tuju slams Ruto’s Tangatanga, tells them to keep off Raila, Uhuru

by Mustafa Juma
written by Mustafa Juma

Jubilee Party Secretary-General Raphael Tuju has defended President Uhuru Kenyatta’s 2018 truce with ODM leader Raila Odinga which has been seen as the main issue causing rift in Jubilee Party.

The ruling party has been experiencing disagreements and public exchanges between rival members and warring factions.

Speaking in Siaya, Tuju said that the party remains strong and intact despite having given indications of internal problems over the past few months.

“We are working for the common good of our country. Our party manifesto espouses national unity. This is what handshake is all about,”

Tuju made the remarks when he represented Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiangi during the official opening of Kipaji Talent Centre in Rarieda, Siaya county on Thursday.

The Cabinet Secretary without portfolio was responding to concerns by forces allied to Deputy President William Ruto who have been cautious of Raila’s involvement with Uhuru.

He lamented that some people are yet to embrace the handshake, which he noted has been of great importance to the country on matters unity.

“It’s therefore sad that some people loathe the handshake, which has brought the much-loved peace we enjoy today,” said Tuju who also condemned the attacks on President Kenyatta by Ruto’s forces lately, terming him a national leader and symbol of unity who should not be associated with tribal groupings.

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