A section of Members of Parliament from Kericho county who are allied to Deputy President William Ruto has rubbished claims that they are planning to quit Jubilee party ahead of 2022 general elections.
Led by Nelson Koech (Belgut), Bureti's Kiptergech Mutai and Hillary Kosgei of Kipkelion West, the legislators said that the agreement between former United Republican Party (URP) and The National Alliance (TNA) party during the formation of the current Jubilee party will remain intact.
“We are a key plank in Jubilee having folded the United Republican Party (URP) alongside The National Alliance (TNA) party and others to form a coalition with a clear development agenda and succession plan which we have no intention of abandoning,” Koech said as quoted by the Daily Nation.
On his part, Bureti MP said that they will follow the party leader Uhuru Kenyatta's directive on the issue and his decision will be final.
“In Jubilee, we have clear leadership and reporting structures with the President and his deputy at the apex. We will abide by what the President directs us to do ahead of the next general election with regard to issues of associating with other parties,” Mutai noted.
The legislators were responding to claims that the Jubilee party is plotting to form a coalition with Raila Odinga’s ODM party ahead of 2022 elections.
The allegations have sparked mixed reactions in DP Ruto's political camp as his allies see the move as aimed at sidelining the second in command who has his eyes on the presidential seat in 2022.