Jubilee Party Secretary-General Raphael Tuju has come out to explain what transpired when soccer star McDonald Mariga met President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House, Nairobi on Wednesday.
Mariga is the ruling party's candidate in the Kibra parliamentary by-election slated for November 7, 2019.
Tuju appeared to downplay the State House meeting, saying it was just for formality and nothing much was discussed, including the road map for the campaigns.
“It was a courtesy call and not a party meeting where we discussed detailed party issues. So do not try to read more into it. We had the same with Wajir West MP Ahmed Kolosh before the area’s mini poll where the President received him and gave him a hat and that was it. We cannot censure speculations as we have the freedom of thought and speech,” he said in an interview with the Daily Nation on Friday.
Asked whether Uhuru, the Jubilee party leader, will campaign for Mariga, who is expected to face stiff competition from Imran Okoth of Raila Odinga-led ODM party, Tuju said: “That has not been discussed thus commenting on that will be speculation.”
Tuju further hinted that Uhuru may not be in Kibra to campaign for the former Kenyan international footballer, noting that his major focus, for now, is development, not politics.
“The President is very busy on very many things affecting the country but we are in touch as a party, not on politics but on development. Politics of Kibra or the party is a very small part of our engagement. The longest time we spent on politics this month is the few minutes we were in State House with Mariga,” Tuju added.
However, a statement released by State House on Wednesday read: "The President wished Mariga success in the contest and assured him of his full backing."
This has been interpreted by a section of politicians allied to Deputy President William Ruto to mean Uhuru will personally join party campaigns in Kibra.