Moses Kuria: Catholic Church is always right
The church rejected President Ruto's Sh5 million donation
3mon agoEMMANUEL WANJALARealtime
Ex-Gatundu South MP Moses Kuria has bemoaned the disintegration of the former ruling Jubilee Party, saying it was a grave mistake to ditch the outfit.
The Jubilee Party, the political juggernaut that catapulted former President Uhuru Kenyatta and his successor William Ruto back to power in 2017, is today a pale shadow of its former self after most of its members decamped to the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) allied to Ruto.
The fallout followed Uhuru's decision to back then Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga ahead of the 2022 elections, severing a 2013 pre-election pact that he would back Ruto at the end of his two five-year terms.
Kuria, who now works as a senior adviser in the economic council at State House after leaving Cabinet at the height of Gen Z-led anti-government protests in June/July, says the Mt Kenya region now lacks a unifying political outfit.
"The Mt Kenya region, like all other regions, deserves a strong political voice. It is our imaginable right. For all the good and bad lessons we have learnt, it was a mistake to leave the Jubilee Party."
Kuria's remarks come as the Mt Kenya region is still reeling from the aftershocks of the acrimonous impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua as Ruto's principle assistant, with observers saying the vote-rich region is now up for grabs by leading presidential contenders in the 2027 general election.
Ruto fell out with Gachagua on several grounds including alleged backing of the anti-government protests and insurbodination, leading to his replacement with former Interior CS Kithure Kindiki as the country's third Deputy President.
Political observers aver that the rift between Ruto and Gachagua has weakened UDA's popularity in Mt Kenya amid indications that the ex-DP is assembling an alliance with Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka to wrestle power from Ruto in the next presidential duel.
In his personal opinion, Kuria says such times demand the Mt Kenya region to speak in one voice through a single political machinery, preferrably the now apparently frail Jubilee party.
"However, it is not too late. We will now embark on bringing all the political parties with a footing in the region together under the Jubilee Party. We did it in 2016 when we dissolved parties to form Jubilee. We will do it again," Kuria said in a statement on Tuesday.
The staunch Ruto ally issued the statement in response to Monday's surprise Ruto visit to Uhuru's Ichaweri home in Gatundu, where the two former political soulmates said in separate statements they discussed matters of national and regional importance.
It was the first time the two were meeting privately since their fallout, sparking debate of a possible reunion to rival the Gachagua-Kalonzo camp that has reportedly been trying to woo Uhuru to support their alliance.
Uhuru, who remained as the Jubilee Party leader after his political divorce with Ruto, is a co-principal in the Azimio camp with Kalonzo.
Kuria, who runs his own political party - Chama Cha Kazi - said the former President is best placed to steer the Mt. Kenya region back on track amid swirling political waves many say could leave 'murima' in the cold come 2027.
"Jubilee under President Kenyatta as the party leader is the way to go. Chama Cha Kazi and myself will devote all our energies in that endeavour," Kuria said.
