Deputy President William Ruto has expressed different views concerning the decision by the party to not field a candidate for the upcoming Msambweni constituency by-elections. By Gerald Gekara.
While appearing in a presser at the doorstep of Jubilee Party headquarters in Pangan area, William Ruto said he was of a different opinion to what the Secretary General Raphael Tuju had announced.
“I was of a different view on Jubilee fielding a candidate in Msambweni by-election but because a decision has already been made and communicated, we will all stand by that decision” said Ruto.
Prior to the announcement, ex ODM member Shirlete Akinyi Mariam had been allegedly gathering resources to contest for the seat that was left vacant in the sudden death of the late Suleiman Dori, an ODM legislator.
Ruto sympathized with Mariam over the shock announcement, and allievated her profile, urging her and others interested in the seat to seek alternative endorsements to contest for the by-elections.
Shortly after Raphael Tuju’s announcement, the Jubilee Deputy Secretary General Caleb Kositany tweeted;
“Consultation with who?. There is no seat reserved for any political party. This we MUST revisit.”
The unfoldings have echoed the happenings in the Kibera by-elections where a section of Jubilee front runners lined up with Raila Odinga in support of ODM’s candidate Imran Okoth.
Ruto scorned at the leaders for abandoning a Jubilee candidate Mc. Donald Mariga in the name of ‘handshake’.
However, now that the party is not fielding a candidate for the seat, Ruto has remained tight lipped on whether he will support ODM’s pick for the by-election.
