Deputy President William Ruto on Wednesday issued a statement indicating that he accepts Jubilee’s position not to field a
candidate in Msambweni by-election, but has a different view of the issue.
According to DP Ruto, he was of the opinion that the party
should field a candidate, especially since his ally Sharlet Mariam Akinyi
Onyango had expressed interest in contesting for the seat on a Jubilee
party ticket.
“We have held a meeting with the SG (Raphael Tuju) on the
decision made. I am satisfied with the decision. Those who had intentions to
use Jubilee Party in Msambweni to use alternative avenues. I was of a completely
different view that the party should have fielded a candidate. We want to speak
from one position as a party, I, however, sympathize with Mariam who is here,”
he said.
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In a series of tweet after the meeting, DP Ruto noted that
as a party, the aim of Jubilee has always been to expand and not fold up.
“We appreciate that the politics of our country is better conversed in political outfits with a national outlook. Since the will of the people is supreme, Jubilee has accorded every Kenyan an opportunity to democratically express themselves by participating in elections… Hence, we are not folding but expanding this party to ensure that it participates, as it should, in every other poll,” he tweeted.
Jubilee Pulls out of Mswambweni by-election
Meanwhile, the Jubilee Party on Wednesday announced that it will not field any candidate in the Msambweni by-election meaning that all
candidates who had expressed interest in using the party’s ticket have been
locked out.