Murathe Responds after Ruto Expressed Displeasure with Jubilee's Mswambeni By-election Decision

Jubilee vice chairman David Murathe has opined that Deputy President William Ruto and his allies can support any candidate and use any political party in the Msambweni by-election after Jubilee pulled out of the contest.

In a statement on Wednesday, the DP expressed his displeasure with the party’s the decision, adding that he will accept it, but it was not the right one.

According to DP Ruto, he was of the opinion that the party should field a candidate, especially since his ally Sharlet Mariam Akinyi Onyango had expressed interest in contesting for the seat on a Jubilee party ticket.

“We have held a meeting with the SG (Raphael Tuju) on the decision made. I am satisfied with the decision. Those who had intentions to use Jubilee Party in Msambweni to use alternative avenues. I was of a completely different view that the party should have fielded a candidate. We want to speak from one position as a party, I, however, sympathize with Mariam who is here,” he said.

Reacting to the DP’s statement, Murathe noted that Jubilee Secretary General Raphael Tuju speaks for the party leader, and as such, if Ruto is not happy, he should square it out with President Uhuru Kenyatta.

“We are supporting the handshake candidate because we are not going to jeopardise the BBI (Building Bridges Initiative) for a seat we are not going to win.

“There are several parties that they can use to field a candidate if they have to. There is that The Service Party (TSP) by Mwangi Kiunjuri. They have to know that what Tuju has said is the party position. If Ruto has a problem with the decision, let him face the president because the SG has basically communicated the position of the party leader,” he said during a recent interview with a local media outlet.