 |
| Aden Duale and Kipchumba Kipchumba Murkomen during the URPs NDC 2016 |
Who would know that a post made four years ago would come back to haunt the Elgeiyo Marakwet Senator? Well that is the case.
A speech posted back on 8th September 2016 on the facebook page of Kipchumba Murkomen has resurfaced. In the post, the vocal Senator had made remarks at the URP National Delegates Conference held in Kasarani seeking to approve the Merger of URP, TNA and other smaller parties to form Jubilee party.
Mr. Murkomen who was quite elated and optimistic described an ideal party structure to the delegates that had graced the Kasarani event.
"We have been in courtship with Jubilee. We have known each other well, we have come of age and the URP NDC like other party NDCs can be likened to an engagement ceremony in preparation for a mega wedding on Saturday where Jubilee marriage will be solemnized." Said Murkomen.
This came amid concerns by a section of party members who felt that the merger would eventually render them partyless.
ALSO READ: Yes I was Kicked out of my Mombasa official residence, Ruto.
ALSO READ: Ruto is back, sends a strong warning!
"I would rather we be a small fish in a big pond than a big fish in a small pond." Murkomen added.
He also said that Jubilee played in the big league and could not be compared to local parties.
"A man aspiring to be a village elder will form a Mashinani (village) party and launch it in his village. This statement could have been targeted at Isaac Ruto's Chama Cha Mashinani (CCM) which declined to fold and join Jubilee party.
A section of Kenyans however were not amused by the decision to fold URP. Here are some of their reactions four years ago;
Here is Murkomen's post: Murkomen speaks
James Mireri: ha ha.. talk is simple and cheap... wish u well; and hope Jubilee remains Jubilee for yrs to come and not do a metamorphosis every 5 years with interim officials.. actually the ESSENCE of the MERGE is to circumvent elections in both URP and TNA which were formed, got power and are folding with no KNOWN officials...seriously???
Osoo Yulemsoo; I guess that seed is not rotten because it won't germinate. If it germinates then ,if it flowers and bears fruits then those fruits over ripe and gets rotten it will be of no help.
The merger is not about solving perennial problems affecting wananchi but rather its being used as a vehicle to acquire and retain power.
All the sweet nothings are just empty rhetorics.
Vinton Kipainoi; Fake imaginations Mr Senator,please do real statistics and you will prove that was not a merger but just a swallow!!...Mistaken Identity,What a blow.
Clement Makali; URP a river, you merge with several rivers n become an ocean ..An ocean can accommodate many fish but DON'T u think that many fish will compete for food which will be minimal hence big FALL OUT.
Manaka Elisha; am not surprised to see what you guys are doing but remember when the deal is so good think twice, we are going back to Egypt "dictatorship is encroaching" watch out there is no unity hear.
However, some Kenyans were supportive of the merger and had the following to say;
Collins Wanderi; Sen. Murkomen is our in-law, he has taken care of our daughter well and his children are our nephews, we trust him to think like a Kenyan. Tribal bigots and narrow minded fellows who don't travel beyond their Counties are free to think like neanderthals. Zinjanthropous once roamed the earth but is now extinct. Tribal bigots are dying out with the urbanisation and intermarriages.
Andrew Kimutai; Tuko Pamoja; kuleta wakenya pamoja kama ndugu na dada Sio kwa maneno tu bali kwa vitendo, vyama ;viongozi; wanawesa kutofautiana kisera na kimawaso ilo si Kumaanisha kwmba ni uhadui; Rais Uhuru amesema kua yeye na Raila wanaketi pamoja kunywa chai; je mbona sisi aswa kama mananchi tujichukie nakuleta ukabila? Wao wametofautian a tu kisera? SISI kama Wakenya wazalendo twafaa kuona hayo sana @kimta
Pato Langat;Tuko pamoja,waliongea wakasema urp,tna marriage won't last,it has past that test of time and bore fruits,grown to accumulate more than ten parties who ideas are good for the nation,gd work hon kipchumba.
JUBILEE PARTY WOES
Currently, Jubilee party is entangled in leadership wrangles with two factions emerging. One faction is allied to President Kenyatta while the other faction is allied to Deputy President William Ruto.
The wrangles have seen the removal of leaders allied to the DP from house leadership positions. Those affected by the changes include Kipchumba Murkomen, Aden Duale and a host of other leaders who played a critical role in the formation of Jubilee party.
Though Duale who was once a strong defender of the government when he served as the Majority leader of the National Assembly has taken a back seat in the national politics, his Elgeiyo Marakwet counterpart has taken a more combative approach.
Murkomen is currently leading a faction of senators opposed to a revenue division formula proposed by the government. In a recent interview on a local media house, Murkomen said that he would henceforth be targeting the president instead of wrongly blaming Raila Odinga.
HANDSHAKE POLITICS
March 2018, saw the culmination of the strained relationship between President Kenyatta and his deputy Ruto. William Ruto has over the time downplayed the handshake. He claimed that Raila was hell bent on destroying the party like he did to KANU.
The entrance of Mr. Odinga into the equation further served to complicate matters in the party. Odinga whose handshake with President Kenyatta in a way excluded the DP has always hit out at the former Eldoret North Member of parliament.
BBI
The BBI is the product of the handshake. This has always been a point of concern for a section of leaders allied to the deputy president. This document, whose contents are still a mystery to many Kenyans is expected to culminate into a referendum sometime next year.
William Ruto is on record saying that a referendum is not one of the major concerns for many Kenyans at the moment. "I don't think we need a referendum, Kenyans are suffering the effects of Covid-19. We need to think of those who were laid off from work, those who lost their businesses and many more Kenyans who speep hungry." Ruto said.
Without a party, the DPs next move would interest a lot of political observers. He is expected to ship out of Jubilee if the going gets tough. His allies have given such indications lately. However, they do not plan to go down without a fight.
The deputy President has in the recent past been bold in attacking government institutions and officers. He talked of the alleged Covid-19 funds theft at KEMSA wondering who would be blamed as he had been sidelined.
In an interview, William Ruto claimed Jubilee party had been hijacked by brokers and conmen. He said that the likes of Murathe and Tuju were causing some of the challenges experienced in the party.
0 Comments