Details have emerged on discreet maneuvers to kick out key pillars of the Jubilee party including Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni and Vice-chairperson David Murathe.
The Star has established that the two top Jubilee honchos, who are fiercely critical of President William Ruto, could be purged from the helm of the former ruling party.
Leading the offensive against officials backing Raila Odinga's Azimio are some Jubilee politicians including MPs, who have openly endorsed President Ruto's government.
Murathe and Kioni are retired President Uhuru Kenyatta's most trusted loyalists and Jubilee party top officials.
There are reports that the removal of the two officials would then pave the way for Jubilee to sign a cooperation agreement with Ruto's Kenya Kwanza administration.
However, the former ruling party must first legally disengage from the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition in which it is an anchor partner.
Kioni who has rattled Kenya Kwanza with his claims that Raila beat Ruto in the August polls, confirmed that he is aware of the plot to eject him from Jubilee leadership.
According to the former Ndaragwa MP, those scheming to kick him out want to hand over Jubilee to Ruto.
“They (Kenya Kwanza) are not happy after we exposed the August 9, 2022 election rigging. They have realised that I have become an important figure in Azimio affairs,” Kioni said.
The politician recently triggered a storm with revelations that a whistle blower, working with the electoral commission, had provided details showing that Raila beat Ruto with over 2.2 million votes.
Asked if the plan to purge him from the helm of Jubilee would succeed, Kioni said that would be a tall order as it must first be sanctioned by the National Delegates Convention.
“The MPs cannot effect any changes in Jubilee without convening the National Delegates Convention,” Kioni affirmed.
The Jubilee spokesperson said the party remains committed to Azimio and “will not be destroyed by individuals swayed by personal interests”.
The ex-MP claimed that the proponents of the scheme have not demonstrated “genuine reasons”.
With Uhuru expected to formally resign as the leader of the Jubilee party in the coming weeks, the pro-Ruto Jubilee MPs want to exploit that to make sweeping changes to the party.
The Jubilee MPs have already heLd meetings with President Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua in what has been seen as part of the plan to develop a working relationship.
Tellingly, nominated MP Sabina Chege, a former Azimio Mt Kenya pillar, has come out to declared Gachagua the region's kingpin.
"For now we only have one leader as Mount Kenya people and that's Rigathi Gachagua and we have to support him fully,” Chege said.
"When we support Gachagua from the ground then he will be much respected even up there. You all know I was an Azimio diehard but just as I respect leadership, I also respect the decisions you made through your votes and that's why you saw me in State House the other day.”
Chege and East African Legislative Assembly member Kanini Kega have signalled working with Ruto, exposing the frictions in Jubilee party.
The two were among a host of Jubilee MPs who met both Gachagua and Ruto.
Other MPs at the meeting were David Kiaraho (Ol Kalou), Irene Njoki (Bahati), Zachary Kwenya (Kinangop), Shadrack Mwiti (Imenti South), Mark Mwenje (Embakasi West), Amos Mwago (Starehe), Dan Karitho (Igembe Central), Stanley Muthama (Lamu West) and Joseph Githuku (Lamu).
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