A showdown looms between President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto as the head of state moves to firmly take charge of his succession.
Just a day after he convened a two-day Jubilee National Delegates Convention, Uhuru told his troops he will now hit the campaign trail.
The President will also spearhead new coalition talks on behalf of Jubilee with parties that "share common ideals and who will treat them [Jubilee] with respect"
“Jubilee has been silent because it has been at work. Now that the political season is here, it’s moving into politics,” Nyeri town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu quoted the President as saying after a meeting at State House.
Uhuru is seeking to turn the tide against Ruto, especially in his Mt Kenya backyard, in favour of his preferred successor, ODM leader Raila Odinga.
However, his direct involvement is likely to trigger a political storm.
Ruto and his troops, including ANC boss Musalia Mudavadi, are adamant that Uhuru is determined to instal and impose “Project Raila” on the people of Kenya.
Jubilee secretary general Raphael Tuju told the Star the State House meeting was a purely political meeting to revitalise Jubilee ahead of the August 9 polls.
“The meeting was convened and conducted by the President. The resolutions made are essentially to strengthen the party,” Tuju said.
Jubilee now plans to enter into what it describes as a “period of aggressive recruitment and political activities including rebranding, and coalition-building".
The party, whose fortunes dwindled after numerous defections to Ruto's UDA, plans to have a majority of governors, MPs and senators and to control at least 33 county assemblies.
“The Jubilee Party will seek to get into a coalition with like-minded parties and support a presidential candidate with whom we share common ideals.
"[They will be parties] who will treat us with respect, and with whom we can form the next government as the ‘anchor partner’, to continue with the work done during the last 10 years,” Wambugu said on Friday.
It has emerged that Uhuru will remain as the Jubilee Party leader.
The leaders indicated that the President made it clear the party must regain its lost glory and ensure those who defected to UDA lose their seats.
Wajir South MP Mohamud Omaar Sheikh told the Star, "It was a 360-degree [actually, 180-degree] turnaround for the President; he is rejuvenating himself and refurbishing the party.
“It was a warm discussion that gave hope to the members. Everybody walked out with glimmer of hope. Uhuru looked and sounded rejuvenated with political energy,” Prof Omaar said.
We are underscoring that Jubilee has not been asleep. We have been working while others have been campaigning. The time for campaigning has come
In the works is a plan to establish regional and special interest caucuses and teams that will meet with the President from time to time to execute the agenda.
“The teams will meet separately with the President and the party leadership. Through them, the party will work to achieve set goals as per respective dynamics,” Wambugu added.
The meeting also ruled out any chances of teaming up with the party rebels at any stage in the competition.
Majority leader Amos Kimunya said the dates for the planned Central Kenya tours have not been identified but the aim is to ensure the party has numbers.
“We are underscoring the point that Jubilee has not been asleep. We have been working while other people have been campaigning. The time for campaigning has come. As we showcase what the President has done, we will also be campaigning as Jubilee.”
He said those present were the ones who requested the President to continue leading Jubilee, to which he acceded.
“We are committed to making sure Jubilee retains numerical strength in Parliament just as we did in 2017,” Kimunya said. “We will replace those who have disappeared because we know we have many people behind us.”
He restated that the party “would be the anchor partner in whatever coalition we get into, through its numerical strength in Parliament.”
“We have ceded the presidency to the other people but we will ensure our numbers in the Senate, National Assembly, among governors, and MCAs,” Kimunya said.
Jubilee has planned a two-day National Delegates Conference on February 25 and 26 as part of its revitalisation plan.
Tuju said they have a lot in their intray, explaining the unprecedented two-day meeting
Some people came to Jubilee through URP and they just went back home. That is not a haemorrhage. Some people never came through URP and blindly followed those who went back home. Those are the ones we are going to remove
“This is so that issues that are not concluded will be dealt with on the second day. It is likely to be a heavy agenda, being the last NDC we are holding before the election,” he said.
Jubilee vice chairman David Murathe had announced last week they will have a twin NDC alongside ODM that will culminate in announcing Raila at Nyayo National Stadium as the joint presidential candidate.
The President would use the acclamation in the two NDCs to return Jubilee to its former glory. Kimunya said those who left were largely members of defunct United Republican Party.
“There were people who came to Jubilee through URP and they just went back home. So that is not a haemorrhage. There are people who never came through URP and have blindly followed those who went back home. Those are the ones we are going to remove,” he said.
The Majority leader expressed confidence Jubilee "has enough numbers on the ground and will focus on rejuvenating the strongholds".
“Those who will come will be vetted. Some have already come back. They need to come fast so that they don’t find us gone,” Kimunya said.
(Edited by V. Graham)