This archive report was first published on 5 September 2019.
Kenya's Jubilee Party has found itself in a crisis after selecting footballer McDonald Mariga as its candidate for the Kibra by-election, a move that has been met with opposition from within the party.
On September 2, 2019, the party's National Elections Board (NEB) announced Mariga as its candidate, citing his passion, zeal, and energy to serve the people of Kibra.
However, the decision has been challenged by several lawmakers and aspirants, who claim that the selection process was unfair, deceptive, and shrouded in secrecy.
Cherangany MP Joshua Kutuny, who is among those opposing the selection, said that the party should have subjected all 16 candidates to a vigorous democratic process before settling on the best candidate.
"Politics doesn't know a household name, we need to go back to the drawing table and put our house in order," Kutuny said.
Others who have opposed the election board's choice include nominated MP Maina Kamanda and Moses Kuria (Gatundu South), who have vowed to back ODM leader Raila Odinga's candidate in the Kibra by-election.
One of the aspirants, Morris Peter Kinyanjui, has even petitioned the party's secretary-general, Raphael Tuju, accusing the NEB of arrogating itself powers it does not have to conduct the selection.
"The nomination procedure should have followed due process, which is either nomination by consensus, secret ballot or any other democratic method agreed upon by members," Kinyanjui said.
The aspirants have vowed to take their grievances to the Party Dispute Tribunal and have called for the nomination to be recalled and halted.
