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Msambweni seat fell vacant following the death of ODM MP Suleiman Dori in March.

     

Jubilee clips Ruto wings in Kwale by-election

Sila Kiplagat | Nation Media Group

By Justus Ochieng'

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By Patrick Lang'at

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IN SUMMARY

Dr Ruto had planned to front a candidate in the constituency perceived to be one of the Coast strongholds of Raila Odinga’s ODM.

But politics of ‘handshake’ between President Kenyatta and Mr Odinga seem to have cost him yet another chance to prove his political mettle.

Ms Sharlet Miriam Akinyi protested at the party’s offices for “being locked out following the party’s decision.”

Jubilee Vice-Chairman David Murathe told off the DP over his botched plan to field a candidate of his choice in Msambweni.

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Deputy President William Ruto Wednesday suffered a humiliating defeat in the fight for the soul of Jubilee Party after officials pulled a rag from under his feet in the run-up to the Msambweni by-election. 

An outsider in the party and his own government, Dr Ruto had planned to front a candidate in the constituency perceived to be one of the Coast strongholds of Raila Odinga’s Orange Democratic Movement.

But like his fate in government, politics of ‘handshake’ between President Kenyatta and Mr Odinga seem to have cost him yet another chance to prove his political mettle as he gears up for 2022 presidential race.

A confidential document signed by Jubilee Secretary-General Raphael Tuju and addressed to President Kenyatta, and seen by the Nation, stated that the decision by the party not to field a candidate was informed by analysis of several factors — including their cooperation with ODM in Parliament and the ruling party’s dismal performance in the last election in Msambweni.

A party official also told the Nation that the move is aimed at averting confrontation between Dr Ruto and Mr Odinga as witnessed in the Kibra by-election last year.

Dori’s death

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The Msambweni seat fell vacant following the death of ODM legislator Suleiman Dori in March.

Dr Ruto’s troubles started on Tuesday evening when he visited Jubilee Party headquarters in Pangani, where he looked forward to meeting top party officials. But the plan flopped after he failed to find Mr Tuju and others in office and ended up chatting with junior officials.

Less than 24 hours later, Mr Tuju Wednesday emerged to declare that Jubilee would not field a candidate in the by-election, slated for December 15, since the “country has very serious constitutional matters to deal with.”

“Following consultations within the party, it has been decided that the Jubilee Party will not be fielding a candidate in the forthcoming Msambweni parliamentary by-election,” Mr Tuju announced.

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“…the decision not to engage in the contest is informed by the facts prevailing at the moment, when we face challenges like the recent advisory by the Chief Justice that Parliament should be dissolved.”

He also cited the ‘handshake’, among reasons, for the decision to back Mr Odinga’s party in the polls. “With the unprecedented cooperation between Jubilee and ODM in Parliament in the recent past on matters of national importance and given that this was an ODM, seat he decision has been made that Jubilee will not field a candidate in the interest of the bigger picture.”

Jolted Ruto

The announcement seems to have jolted Dr Ruto who returned to Jubilee headquarters and held a closed-door meeting with Mr Tuju and his team.

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