Alfred Keter vindicatedSOME URP members have accused their coalition partners TNA of sidelining them in government. They claim that President Uhuru Kenyatta's party is excluding them from decision making, some that require joint participation.
"They are also denying or hiding from us business opportunities and giving them to their people. When it comes to jobs we literally have to beg for them and sometimes push for us to get. Some Key decisions are made without our participation and we only learn of them in the media," said a URP MP yesterday.
URP organizing Secretary George Ayugi told the Star that they were unhappy that their Party leader William Ruto did not have his own budget.
"Recently, when we visited State House over an issue we wanted addressed, we were told that we served our purpose and we should therefore stop making demands. We were also told that the DP must seek approval for every expenditure from the Presidency,” he said.
As a result of the discontent, URP has called a National Executive Committee meeting on Tuesday next week to discuss the issue ahead of the National Governing meeting on March 9.
Yesterday Party Secretary General Fred Muteti denied that the NEC had been called to discuss their relationship with their Jubilee partners.
"This is our first meeting this year and today a working committee met to prepare for NEC and National Governing Council. The agenda for this meetings is to review the party's progress but not to discuss TNA," said Muteti following a meeting yesterday.
He said they will also discuss how to utilize their share of the political Parties fund. "In these meetings, the party’s NEC and PG will conduct an evaluation of our partnership in the jubilee coalition exactly one year after the 4th March elections,” Muteti said.
Others who attended yesterday's meeting at the party's Ngong Road offices were Chairman Francis Kaparo, Chief Whip Sammy Mwaita, Organizing Secretary George Ayugi, Executive Director David Koech, Deputy Secretary General Leah Ntimama and Bomet Senator Wilfred Rotich Lesan.
Two months ago URP members complained that TNA was taking the Lion's share of government jobs and following the complain a number of URP members were handed big jobs in government.
Yesterday the Star obtained a statement which was to be read by party officials led by chairman Francis Ole Kaparo after their meeting.The statement said that they have invited all URP members of the National Assembly, Senators and Governors to attend the meeting. However, speaking after the meeting, some of the officials said that they are not happy with TNA.
TNA is also planning to hold a retreat for its officials this weekend in Naivasha. A section of TNA MPs who are said to be planning to remove chairman Johnson Sakaja and Secretary General Onyango Oloo yesterday said that they would not attend.
It has been organised following instructions by President Uhuru Kenyatta who is said to be unhappy with constant negative reports in the media.
Led by Kajiado North MP Moses ole Sakuda and his Kieni counterpart Kanini Kega, the 12 MPs protested over the planning of the retreat. "The meeting was not properly convened and only five MPs were invited to it. We will therefore not go for the retreat," Sakuda said. Kikuyu MP Kimani Ichungwa said that he had been invited but after consultations with the rest, he would also skip the retreat. The MPs were meeting at Boulevard Hotel in Nairobi.
"We want proper structures in the party because since the elections, it appears that there is nothing that has been going on and all programmes have stalled," Sakuda said.
Sakuda and his group are pushing for the party’s leadership overhaul, arguing that officials who have secured State appointments should cease to hold office.
Oloo is the chairman of the Lake Basin Development Authority while its Vice Chairperson Lydia Mokaya is serving as the President’s political advisor. Some 70 MPs led by Kitutu Chache North MP Jimmy Angwenyi sent a statement on Wednesday expressing solidarity with Sakaja. "We have total confidence in honourable Sakaja who is our current chairman and wish to clarify that we are not part of a clique that is casting aspersions in the current leadership in totality," the statement said.
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