Jubilee Party presidential candidate Fred Matiang’i has defended retired President Uhuru Kenyatta against accusations of interfering in the internal affairs of ODM. This comes at a time when ODM officials have been engaging in a heated debate over Azimio agents and why Raila Odinga lost the 2022 election.
Speaking in Nairobi Tuesday after chairing the first meeting of the year, Dr Matiang’i said that it was alarming that government officials were getting upset every time the former Head of State expressed his views on matters of national interest.
The former Cabinet Secretary insisted that Mr Kenyatta's handover of power to President William Ruto did not mean he was barred from opining on matters affecting Kenya.
“Our party leader, despite the fact that he is the retired head of state, he has a right to engage, to participate. We want to request our colleagues in the national leadership; we believe that they have much to do and that they can spend much time on so that they will spend less time on our party leader. Stop attacking our party leader and dragging him into irrelevances,” Dr Matiang’i said.
At the same time, he distanced the Jubilee Party from allegations that they were attempting to split ODM by seeking to strengthen their coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.
However, Dr Matiang’i said, Jubilee believes in creating a conducive environment in which other parties can thrive without interference.
“We are a peaceful party, and we wish all our fellow political players the best as we go forward. We are not involved in any conflict with anyone, and we are not interested in conflict with anyone. We genuinely believe in multi-party democracy and we would like other parties who compete with us to thrive because that is how Kenya would achieve the democracy that it aspires.”
He said that while different parties are engaging in talks to form coalitions, Mr Kenyatta has not taken any role or been involved in seeking to break apart ODM party, as alleged by a section of leaders in the broad-based government.
On the alleged mismanagement of millions of shillings meant to cater for Azimio agents in the 2022 General Election, Jubilee Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni dismissed it as irrelevant and being used to divert the attention of Kenyans.
He said claims made by Suna East MP Junet Mohamed were supposed to have been addressed by Azimio leaders then, including by the legislator who was by then Secretary-General of the coalition. He also said that Mr Mohamed was among officials who were managing the money, hence lacks moral authority to demand accountability.
“Our party leader was engaged in fundraising, and when he was doing this, resources were being given to the party (Azimio) for purposes including payment of agents,” Mr Kioni said, adding that if Azimio leaders had prudently used the money, the late Prime Minister would likely have become president.
“If we had managed it well, there is every likelihood that Raila would be in State House alive, having secured proper medical attention when he became unwell.”
