The Jubilee party of Kenya was founded on 8th September 2016 following the merger and collapse of 11 smaller parties with a vision to rule for 100 years.
In 2019 the party experienced upheavals over the 2022 presidential election. Two factions emerged, one supported Deputy President William Ruto while another supported President Uhuru Kenyatta.
In 2020 when COVID-19 pandemic visited, Jubilee executed a purge that saw politicians allied to William Ruto removed from leadership positions in parliament.
“So unfortunately, a party we spent so much time, energy resources and emotion to put together has been dismembered,” said Deputy President William Ruto in an interview with KTN.
Ruto says should the looming Jubilee-ODM merger succeed, he might even join the coalition or United Democratic Alliance and form a coalition with other like-minded parties.
“NASA would have been forced to be together and progressively we would then have two national political formations, we would then need not have these tribal things in political parties,” said Ruto
Despite the infighting in Jubilee, Ruto appears to be comfortable with the political separation rather than a political divorce. Resigning is not an option
“The Deputy President has not violated any law or any article of the constitution for him to warrant a resignation or whatever else. With millions of other people, I assembled this government, by our own sweat and hands. I think it would be the biggest act of betrayal if I were to walk away from 8 million Kenyans who voted for us,” said Ruto.
Ruto compared the BBI push to the 1982 repeal of the constitution that turned Kenya into a one party state.
“You may change the constitution the way it is proposed by the BBI, but then, you will have set up very very dangerous President that the next person with power, with influence, with money, can come and change this constitution in such a manner that we will never recognize it, you can even create a monarchy, you can create a dictatorship,” said Ruto.
As the clock ticks to the 9th August 2022 general election, the political tectonic plates will keep moving sometimes toward and sometimes away from each other.
