JUBILEE senators and MPs in Rift Valley allied to Deputy President William Ruto are working on a plan to popularise the new Jubilee Alliance Party ahead of the 2017 elections.
Sources told the Star former Tinderet MP Henry Kosgey will possibly take over as the JAP national chairman to help strengthen the party.
Kosgey, who is former ODM national chairman, is however yet to accept the offer and is said to be consulting on the matter.
He has taken a low political profile since the last elections.
Kosgey could not be reached for comment as calls to his phone did not go through.
Some URP leaders headed by Bomet Governor Isaac Rutto are, however, opposed to plans to merge URP and TNA into JAP.
“By 2017, we will have only JAP as a party. We have a grand plan to market JAP, including through the media,” said Marakwet West MP William Kisang on Sunday in Eldoret town.
He said the plan to market the party will ensure it takes on board all members of URP and TNA.
“We are starting with the Kajiado Central by-election after which we will roll out major plans to market JAP as a national movement,” Kisang said.
Elgeyo Marakwet Senator Kipchumba Murkomen and Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi are among those working on the marketing plan.
Sudi yesterday said they are still in talks on how best to ensure JAP becomes a strong movement in the Rift Valley.
“We already agreed that we will move together as one house. We are working on the plan for the next elections,” Sudi told the Star on the phone.
Murkomen was one of the key architects of the Jubilee alliance between URP and TNA parties.
He is one of those who have been tasked to come up with a popular mechanism to market JAP ahead of the 2017 polls.
The legislator is among key strategists who have been burning the midnight oil on the JAP master plan, which will also rope in governors and MCAs in Rift Valley and other parts of the country.
Nandi Governor Cleophas Lagat said he will strongly support the JAP.
“We need to head to the next elections as one united group. It’s not good to have so many units yet our objectives for this country are the same,” he said.
Kanu leaders have declined proposals to join JAP, saying their party will always remain independent.
Retired President Moi two weeks ago said Kanu must remain independent.
– the-star.co.ke
