Mt Kenya Leaders Abandon Uhuru: Sabina Chege and Others
Jubilee Party, an affiliate of the opposition coalition Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party, supported Raila Odinga’s presidential bid in 2022.
EALA MP Kanini Kega mobilized a portion of the party’s politicians and switched allegiance to Odinga.
William Ruto, whom Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto met at the state house, stormed the Jubilee Party headquarters to protect his ally Jeremiah Kioni, claiming he was there to protect the party.
GossipA2Z examines the Mt Kenya politicians who broke ranks with Uhuru Kenyatta despite his assistance in launching their political careers.
In politics, it is commonly believed that alliances are based on egotistical motives, with the average citizen serving as a mere pawn in the game of power.
Former president Uhuru Kenyatta appears to be acutely aware of this, as on April 26 groups affiliated with him and another supporting President William Ruto stormed the Jubilee Party headquarters in Kileleshwa, each claiming the authority to be in office.
The former ruling party, an affiliate of the opposition coalition Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party, supported Raila Odinga’s bid to run for president in the General Election on August 9, 2022, but split after Ruto was declared the winner.
A few weeks after his inauguration, East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) member Kanini Kega mobilized a portion of the party’s politicians to switch their allegiance to Ruto, whom they met at State House Nairobi.
ALSO READ: Bipartisan Talks: Raila Takes on Jalang’o & Rebel MPs
After holding a National Executive Council meeting with loyalists, Kega announced himself as the new secretary-general and suspended Uhuru’s confidant Jeremiah Kioni and chairman David Murathe.
They accused the two party leaders of mismanaging the organization’s affairs.
Uhuru was compelled to storm the party headquarters to protect his ally Kioni, and his presence was also intended to safeguard the party.
Already, Kega and other Mt Kenya leaders who were politically mentored by Uhuru have retaliated against the former president for his recent action to prevent the takeover of Jubilee offices.
In this context, we examine the politicians who have now banded together against Uhuru, accusing him of stooping too low despite having held the highly coveted position of Commander in Chief.
Sabina Chege
Sabina was elected as the Murang’a woman representative to the National Assembly by The National Alliance (TNA) na Jubilee Parties in 2013 and 2017, respectively.
The two parties enjoyed massive support in Uhuru’s home region of Mount Kenya because he was the leader at the time.
Sabina was a senior member of the Azimio executive council in the run-up to the most recent elections.
ALSO READ: Raila Ousts 5 Rebel Jubilee Senators from Committees
Sabina has currently turned against Uhuru, as she is one of the politicians plotting to expel him from the Jubilee Party.
Kanini Kega
The same holds for Kega, who was first elected to Parliament in 2013 on a TNA ticket.
Currently, he is serving in the EALA Parliament courtesy of the Uhuru-led Jubilee Party.
The Jubilee Party disputes intensified on Tuesday, May 9, after Kega issued a notice canceling a special National Delegates Conference called by Uhuru.
Kega stated that the NDC scheduled for May 22 at the Bomas of Kenya in Nairobi has been suspended, and the party will in due course issue a notice convening a Special Delegates Convention by the February 10 resolution of the National Executive Council.
Moses Kuria
The Trade and Industry Cabinet Secretary, Kuria, has emerged as one of Uhuru’s harshest critics.
This is even though Uhuru helped Kuria join Parliament as a Gatundu representative in 2014 without opposition from TNA.
ALSO READ: Uhuru Facing Lawsuit Over Jubilee National Delegates Conference Remarks
Kuria became a member of Parliament after the passing of Jossy Ngugi, and he was re-elected in 2017 by Uhuru’s Jubilee Party.
Despite this, Kuria has been hurling insults at Uhuru ever since the former head of state announced his support for Raila.
Rigathi Gachagua
In 2017, the Jubilee Party elected the vice president to Parliament as the representative for Mathira.
However, between 2001 and 2006, Gachagua served as a provincial administrator and Uhuru’s assistant.
Gachagua has emerged as Uhuru’s fiercest critic despite using Jubilee to enter Parliament.
He accuses Uhuru of betraying the vote-rich Mt Kenya region despite rallying support for his presidential campaigns in 2013 and 2017.
Kimani Ichung’wah
Ichung’wah was elected as the Kikuyu MP for the first time in 2013 on the TNA ticket.
In 2017, he was unopposed for the same seat through the Jubilee Party.
In a recent interview with the media, Ichung’wah, the majority leader of the National Assembly, revealed that he and Uhuru have not spoken for three years.
ALSO READ: Uhuru’s Advice: Bringing an End to Jubilee Chaos Post-Coup
According to him, their relationship began to deteriorate in late 2018, when Uhuru was serving his second term as president.
Ndindi Nyoro
Nyoro was also elected to Parliament for the first time in 2017 with Uhuru’s support. Today, he switched his allegiance to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA). A political party affiliated with the Kenya Kwanza Alliance, which is led by Ruto.
He holds a highly controversial position in Kenyan politics, having risen to prominence due to his contempt for Raila.
He was also an unwavering supporter of Ruto’s 2022 presidential campaign, despite Uhuru’s rejection and a difficult political battle.
Ngunjiri Wambugu
Ngunjiri faulted Uhuru in September 2022 for failing to recognize Ruto as the president-elect.
In his prerecorded address to the nation on Monday, September 5, 2022. Then-president Uhuru was vague in his message preceding the political transition at the national level.
ALSO READ: Sabina Chege to Succeed Uhuru as Jubilee Party Leader
While praising Kenyans for maintaining peace throughout the electoral process. Uhuru did not directly congratulate Ruto as many had anticipated. Particularly after the Supreme Court’s ruling that confirmed Ruto’s presidential victory.
The former Nyeri representative wondered why Uhuru would find it so difficult to accept the status quo.
Anne Waiguru
As with other politicians, Uhuru vigorously defended Waiguru from 2014 to 2015. When she faced corruption allegations while serving as the Devolution Cabinet Secretary, just as he did with other politicians.
While serving as the then-Devolution CS, Waiguru faced considerable oppositional pressure.
The Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD) led by Raila at the time. Demanded Waiguru’s resignation over the theft of KSh 790 million from the National Youth Service (NYS).
Waiguru, who no longer agrees with Uhuru. Is currently serving her second term as the county executive of Kirinyaga and as the chairman of the Council of Governors (CoG).
Mt Kenya Leaders Abandon Uhuru: Sabina Chege and Others
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