DP William Ruto's Allies Vow to Remove Jubilee Vice-Chair David Murathe from Office over 2022 Elections Remarks

Leaders allied to Deputy President William Ruto are up in arms following Jubilee Party vice-chairperson David Murathe's remarks about 2022 elections.

Murathe, who spoke in Vihiga County, said there is no MoU that states that the Kikuyu community will back Ruto's presidential bid in 2022 or will be the Jubilee party's presidential flag bearer in the next election.

“We Mt. Kenya community don’t have an agreement with DP to support him in 2022 unless it was between him and President Uhuru Kenyatta, he should prepare to go home,” says Murathe.

The official further says that President Kenyatta and Ruto shared the government equally from 2013 and should both retire in 2022.

"If you (Ruto) have led with Uhuru for two terms, what else do you want? We don't know someone who will guard us but we know someone who will break us. We will take someone who will safeguard Mt Kenya."

The statement has irked Ruto’s allies who have now vowed to remove Murathe from office in the next National Executive Council (NEC) meeting. The leaders accuse the Jubilee party official of overstepping his mandate.

“Murathe does not deserve any attention because of his unbecoming character. As the real stakeholders of Jubilee Party, we will throw him out,” says Keiyo South MP Daniel Rono.

“We are concerned at how he is handling the affairs of the party and his prolonged stay is likely to affect our country’s unity. Murathe does not control even one percent of the Kikuyu community. His sentiments are an attempt to make him relevant."

Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa says disciplinary action must be taken against Murathe.

“I call on President Kenyatta to call for party officials’ elections so that we can set our house in order. Murathe does not add any value to the party and disciplinary action should be taken against him,” says Barasa.

Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichung'wa says only Kenyatta and Ruto are in the position to give direction on party matters and dismissed Murathe as a power broker.

“As a member of Jubilee National Executive Council, that's David’s (Murathe) opinion, to which he is entitled but sounds reckless coming from a member of the party leadership and a close friend,” National Assembly Leader of Majority Aden Duale notes.

“Those are his personal views. The Jubilee party still supports Ruto for President and this can only be altered by Uhuru Kenyatta. Central region strongly supports Ruto over Raila or anyone else,” says Murang'a senator Irungu Kang’ata.