NAIROBI, Kenya, Sept 8 – Turkana Senator John Munyes became the latest elected leader to announce his defection from the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy to Jubilee.
Munyes made the announcement on Thursday at the Bomas of Kenya where parties affiliated to the Jubilee coalition got down to the business of melding into a single entity.
“I have resigned as National Chair of Ford Kenya and I take it upon myself to show my former party leader the light (Moses Wetangula),” he said to cheers.
Wetangula meanwhile was in the Senate where he criticised Jubilee for its, “opulent but tactless,” display of financial muscle in its Jubilee party branding.
Munyes was joined in swearing fealty to Jubilee at Bomas by other CORD legislators who had already made their intentions known: Sirisia MP John Waluke, Nominated MP Isaac Mwaura and Mathare MP Stephen Kariuki.
“I’ve today most respectfully informed my Party Leader Rt.Hon. Raila Odinga of my decision to work closely with H.E President Uhuru Kenyatta. This is after extensive consultation with the people of Ruiru and as they say, all politics is local. I remain most grateful and honoured for the special consideration by my Party Leader to nominate me to represent special interests in Parliament,” Mwaura posted on Facebook last month.
Munyes formally announced his decision to ditch CORD for Jubilee at the same forum where Water and Irrigation Cabinet Secretary Eugene Wamalwa and Bungoma Governor Kenneth Lusaka led New Ford Kenya in dissolving their party in favour of the Jubilee party merger.
Others present for the occasion were Bishop Margaret Wanjiru who, like Wamalwa, has expressed interest in the Nairobi gubernatorial seat and Senate Speaker Ekwe Ethuro.
New F0rd Kenya got the green light to fold up on Wednesday when the Political Parties Tribunal dismissed a complaint filed by two of its members, challenging the Jubilee Party merger.
The tribunal dismissed the challenge on the grounds that the complainants failed to comply with Section 40(2) of the Political Parties Act which required them to first exhaust all internal dispute resolution mechanisms.
