This archive report was first published on 13 October 2019.
As the March 2020 deadline for Jubilee Party's grassroot elections draws near, the party's ability to hold the polls is under threat due to the deepening rift between Deputy President William Ruto and the party's secretary-general Raphael Tuju.
According to the Political Parties Act 2017, all parties, including Jubilee, that had interim officials at the time of the law's enactment, are supposed to hold elections within three years. The party was launched in September 2016 as the re-election vehicle for Uhuru and Ruto.
However, the split within the party was escalated by Ruto's declaration that the party will go to the polls early next year, which Tuju dismissed, insisting that only the National Executive Committee (NEC) is mandated to plan and schedule grassroot polls.
Former outspoken party vice chairman David Murathe, who was a strong critic of Ruto, resigned from the position amid bitter exchanges with Ruto supporters.
Tuju has come under criticism from Ruto's supporters, who claim he is one of the party officials fighting the Deputy President and opposed to his 2022 candidature.
Senate Majority Leader Kipchumba Murkomen, a close ally of Ruto, said the party must hold the polls by the stipulated time in accordance with the requirements of the Political Parties Act.
“It is not about what we want, it is a mandatory legal requirement. Some people are putting it like we have a choice on whether to hold the polls by early next year. That is not the case. If the party has to continue existing, then it is compulsory that we have the elections as stipulated,” he added.
