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Murathe surfaces after lull as Jubilee plots comeback

The towering Jubilee vice chairperson is gettig actively involved in party activities.

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by JAMES MBAKA

News10 December 2023 - 08:48
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In Summary


  • Murathe wars aggressively campaigning against President Ruto's bid for State House.
  • He is a key ally and confidant of Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Jubilee vice chairperson David Murathe and Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni in Lamu on December 9, 2023.

Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta's political confidant David Murathe has resurfaced in the ongoing Jubilee party revamp activities after months of a political lull.

The besieged Jubilee vice chairperson on Saturday joined other key party officials during the party's grassroots campaigns in Lamu county.

This was the first time that Murathe, an influential figure within the former ruling party and Uhuru's loyalist, was attending Jubilee grassroots activities after last year's polls.

Murathe was among the key Jubilee linchpins who launched a ruthless political war against William Ruto, now president, when he served as Deputy President and the party's second in command.

He was the face of the influential figures around Uhuru who dismissed Ruto's presidential candidature and went on to aggressively campaign for Azimio leader Raila Odinga.

The Jubilee bigwig had even vowed that Uhuru would not hand over power to Ruto even if he won the 2022 presidential elections.

After months of strategic retreat, Murathe is back to the political ring as the Jubilee party seeks to redeem itself after a poor show in the last general elections where it lost over 80 per cent of elective seats.

On Saturday, Murathe was among the Jubilee top honchos who held a town hall meeting in Lamu town as part of Jubilee's aggressive campaigns to revamp itself ahead of the next general elections.

During the Lamu event, Murathe used the occasion to warn that President Ruto is planning to betray his deputy Rigathi Gachagua when he retires.

Murathe said that President Ruto is scheming to cut Gachagua down to size in his Mt Kenya backyard by propping up and warming up to politicians associating with the DP.

“Ruto is clever, he knows the law, and he is looking for ways to get rid of the officials because they started aligning themselves politically with DP Gachagua like Kanini and Sabina.

Ruto cannot let DP Gachagua to form his own party. So he is cutting him down to size,” claimed Murathe.

Murathe has previously missed some of Kioni's Jubilee activities in some counties over the recent past.

Last week, Murathe said that he had retired from actively participating in the day-to-day politics of the country.

According to Murathe, after their Azimio side lost the August 2022 general elections, he took a step back from active day-to-day activities.

"I'm officially retired from engaging with the day-to-day, up and down, the politics and all that," he said on Spice FM.

His reemergence could signal wider plans by Jubilee politicians to plot a political comeback after their obliteration by Ruto's United Democratic Alliance(UDA).

On December 8, Kioni held a consultative meeting with Jubilee Party leadership and members drawn from all 11 constituencies in Nakuru City County.

The Jubilee official also opened the new Jubilee party headquarters in the city of Nakuru.

On December 6, Kioni was in Meru County where he held a meeting with a grassroots leader.

''It's evident that in Meru County, the Jubilee Party stands as the party of choice! Your dedication and enthusiasm for our shared vision and values have not gone unnoticed,'' Kioni said.

''We deeply appreciate the trust and confidence you've placed in us. Your participation and involvement have been instrumental in shaping the future of our county and our nation.''

The Kioni faction is battling for the heart and soul of Jubilee with another camp led by former Kieni MP Kanini.

The two factions are embroiled in court fights.

 

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