Gusii leaders lobby for Matiang'i to replace DP Ruto in Jubilee
Deputy President William Ruto (right) with Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i.
Jubilee leaders from the Gusii region are fronting Dr Fred Matiang’i for the position of deputy party leader, a post currently held by Deputy President William Ruto, as they negotiate for higher stakes in national politics.
This comes as Jubilee is expected to kick out Dr Ruto when its National Delegates Convention is held on November 30.
The Gusii leaders include Transport Chief Administrative Secretary Chris Obure, Kitutu Chache North MP Jimmy Angwenyi, Nyamira Woman Rep Jerusha Momanyi, Nakuru Town West Samuel Arama and Albert Nyaundi, the chairman of the Jubilee Party National Advisory Council.
Mr Arama, in an interview with the Nation yesterday, said the leaders are pushing for a meeting with the Interior CS later this week to inform him of their resolutions as Jubilee delegates.
“We want to meet with Dr Matiang’i so that we can inform him of our proposal to have him take over as Jubilee deputy party leader. We are also planning to meet President Kenyatta to inform him of the same,” said Mr Arama.
Jubilee’s NDC is expected to be a politically charged event that could mark the official political break-up of the party leader President Kenyatta, and his deputy.
The DP is expected to be shown the door following his association with UDA, on whose ticket he plans to contest the presidency in next year’s election. Kenya's second in command has previously described UDA as his new political home.
Jubilee leaders have said the NDC will serve to ‘punish rebels’.
Growing rivalry
The proposal by Gusii leaders to replace Dr Ruto with Dr Matiang’i, just a few days ahead of the NDC, is expected to step up the rivalry between the two leaders.
Dr Ruto has in the past two years accused the CS of taking up his roles as DP since his elevation to the heart of the Jubilee administration by President Kenyatta.
Speaking in Nyamira recently, he said he was ready to leave Jubilee and that he had joined hands with other elected leaders to form a formidable party that he was confident will form the next government.
Though the Nation could not reach Dr Matiang’i for comment on the matter, leaders pushing for Dr Ruto’s ouster from Jubilee said the move would restore sanity in the ruling party.
“He is all we have as a community. He has proved his worth over the years and more responsibilities would mean good for this country,” Mr Arama said.
