Jeremiah Kioni, Secretary-General of the Jubilee Party, has urged Azimio coalition members to stay put and refrain from defecting to other parties or risk losing their elected seats.
Speaking after meeting the party’s elected leaders in Nakuru on Thursday morning, he stated that those who switched alliances after the election demonstrated a “lack of leadership qualities.”
“Any member of the Jubilee Party exhibiting wayward behaviour and planning to switch from one party to another should know that they risk losing their seats. Remember we had a pre-election coalition agreement which we would want to remain faithful to for the next five years,” said Mr Kioni.
Migrating from one party to another, according to Mr Kioni, is sufficient grounds for any voter to challenge their continuation in office. He also stated that shifting now has no effect on House majorities.
Mr Kioni also urged the independent leaders to remain independent and not show favoritism to either party, as they risk losing their seats as well.
Speaking about the recently concluded election, he then reiterated claims of rigging, claiming that it occurred “on an industrial level.” However, he did not provide any evidence to back up his claims.
His remarks come just hours after UDM, the party of outgoing Mandera governor Ali Roba, abandoned Raila Odinga’s Azimio la Umoja coalition in favor of President-elect William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza.
In last week’s election, UDM won two governorships, seven parliamentary seats, and at least 35 ward representatives, providing a significant boost to Dr Ruto’s coalition.
However, under the law, UDM remains under Azimio because an earlier agreement states that they can only leave in December.
Furthermore, ten of the twelve independent MPs elected to parliament have indicated their intention to join Kenya Kwanza.
While independent candidates are not required by law to affiliate with any organization, they have frequently aligned with parties or coalitions that they either contested in during the nominations or see as being more ideologically aligned.
