East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) MP Mpuru Aburi could lose his seat if Jubilee Party heeds Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi’s call to expel him and revoke his nomination.
Mr Murungi said he had “declared total war” on the MP, whom he accused of gross misconduct and sponsoring registration and popularising ideologies of another party — the National Ordinary People Empowerment Union (NO-PEU).
The governor wrote to Jubilee Party Secretary-General Raphael Tuju asking him to present the matter to the disciplinary committee.
He said that, in addition to the evidence attached to his letter, he was also ready to testify.
“The MP has infringed section 14 (5) (d) and (e) of the Political Parties Act and Article 13 of Jubilee Party constitution through gross misconduct and disloyalty by declaring open allegiance to another political party,” the letter dated September 21 reads.
“...he has publicly, consistently and continuously promoted the name, ideology, interests and policies of that party. Consequently, he should be deemed to have resigned from Jubilee and his name removed from the party register,” it adds.
Reached for comment, Mr Tuju said: “If there is a complaint, and if there is merit, then my humble responsibility is to forward it to the disciplinary committee, which will take it from there.”
Mr Murungi told journalists in Meru town that, he was forced to act after the MP “insulted” him in public on several occasions.
The governor said Mr Aburi, a friend-turned-, who campaigned for him in 2017, was not fit to be a representative in the regional assembly because of his “disrespect for other party leaders and despicable behaviour”.
Mr Murungi also claimed that the MP had “stirred discontent, hatred and tribal animosity” among the three Meru sub-tribes — Igembe, Imenti and Tigania — at public gatherings.
“The party should punish this negative, backward, barbaric and uncivilised behaviour, which runs contrary to its ideologies. Today I declare total war on Mpuru,” said the visibly agitated governor.
Speaking to the Nation in a phone interview, Mr Aburi denied all the accusations, adding, he had not advocated for the interests of another party. He insisted he was “Jubilee mwanachama namba moja (Number One member of Jubilee party).
“I’m more loyal to Jubilee than the governor and one of the few members who pay their monthly dues promptly. I’m not a member of any other party,” he said.
“Being opposed to Kiraitu does not mean I’m against Jubilee. I’ll also fight back with more fire,” the Eala legislator added.
