The Jubilee Party and the National Super Alliance (NASA) are facing unity test as internal primaries approach.
The parties could witness rebellion if the primaries go wrong.
Earlier, Jubilee Party leaders President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto had indicated that their primaries will be conducted by electoral body IEBC.
The Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) has, however, remained mum on the issue, and is unlikely to conduct the primaries.
This will mean the party’s elections board will take charge, putting the credibility of the nominations in question.
The upcoming Jubilee nominations will be a big headache for Uhuru and Ruto, to ensure they are free and fair, if the IEBC does not take charge.
Already, several politicians have decamped from the Jubilee Party for fear of unfair nominations.
Most of the leaders, recently 25 MCAs, moved to Maendeleo Chap Chap, led by Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua.
On Friday, Jubilee Party head of secretariat Raphael Tuju hinted at IEBC collaborating with the party in their nominations.
“Jubilee Party and IEBC have formed a six-member team to discuss modalities of the commission holding the party nominations,” Tuju said.
Meanwhile in NASA, party leaders Raila Odinga (ODM), Moses Wetangula (Ford – Kenya), Kalonzo Musyoka (Wiper) and Amani National Congress’ Musalia Mudavadi are mulling holding the primaries within the individual parties, as opposed to NASA as a whole, to avoid disunity.
“It is something for which nobody has an answer. It is a very hot issue. We are, however, alive to the danger of playing into the hands of our opponents if all the parties under Nasa were to have candidates,” Wiper deputy party leader Farah Maalim said as reported by Nation.
Reports say some key party leaders want the parties that form NASA to hold separate primaries, while others want joint nominations.
ODM deputy party leader and Kakamega Governor Wycliffe Oparanya is said to be for NASA holding joint primaries.
Wetangula on the other hand is rooting for individual party primaries.
The political parties are expected to submit their nomination rules to the IEBC starting Monday, February 20.
The parties have only ten days to make the submissions to the polls agency.