Public Service CS Justin Muturi has confirmed that the Democratic Party of Kenya(DP), a party affiliated to him has issued a notice to leave the Kenya Kwanza Coalition.
However, Muturi said the party did not have to inform him of the intent to leave the Kenya Kwanza coalition because it is at liberty to make decisions.
“The party doesn’t have to inform me these days about the activities that they are doing because they do the normal things. The management committee, and they are at liberty to make whatever decision they feel it is in the best interest of the party, and therefore they did not have to inform me about the decision to write to the registrar about the desire to exit the coalition,” Muturi said during an interview at Citizen TV.
On Wednesday, Muturi’s party issued a 30-day notice to exit the Kenya Kwanza Alliance, with Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu confirming that her office had received the letter.
The CS further said that he had just learned of the letter after it had been submitted.
“I just saw the letter also; whether I am okay with it or not, it is a decision that has been made by an organ of the party that I believe it is authorised to make the decision.”
Muturi joined the Kenya Kwanza alliance through the DP party under an agreement signed in May 2022, making the party one of the alliance’s constituent members.
The DP delegates had earlier installed Muturi as the party leader during a meeting on February 22, 2022.
However, he resigned from the position upon his nomination as Attorney General.
“Kindly take notice that our stay in Kenya Kwanza is no longer tenable due to prevailing political developments,” reads the notice, signed by DP Secretary General Dr. Jacob Haji and dated March 7.
“The Democratic Party of Kenya, through this letter, hereby gives a 30-day notice to exit the coalition, as stipulated in termination clause 8 of the coalition agreement.”
The party further stated that the notice takes effect from the date of the letter, effectively signaling DP’s exit from Kenya Kwanza.
By law, the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) has no authority to reject a political party’s decision to leave a coalition, provided that a 30-day notice is issued.
The letter was addressed to the chairperson of the Kenya Kwanza Coalition secretariat and copied to the secretaries general of Ford Kenya, UDA, and Maendeleo Chap Chap.
It was also co-signed by DP Chairperson Esau Kioni.
