Africa-Press – Kenya. Narc Kenya leader, Martha Karua, and her The Service Party (TSP) counterpart, Mwangi Kiunjuri, have told off Deputy President William Ruto over calls to dissolve their political parties and join his United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Speaking during a fundraiser in Kinyona, Murang’a County on Sunday, September 12, Karua noted that the country was a multi-party democracy and politicians should not be arm-twisted into folding their parties.
She further argued that parties had the capability of working together without necessarily folding up.
“Let us not move into just one party. We must stay with our parties. Parties can work together but we have refused to move into one party because we cannot return to where we came from.”
“No one can ask me to dissolve Narc Kenya. They tried in 2017 but I stayed put. If they ask you, refuse to shut down your shop,” she stated.
Kiunjuri, on the other hand, argued that all political parties had satisfied constitutional requirements and that there was no need to dissolve them.
The former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary also noted that Jubilee Party was just running out of time and was likely to dissolve before the August 9, 2022 elections.
“We have 75 fully registered political parties. They meet legal requirements that include drawing membership and leadership from a majority of counties. World over parties grow from particular strongholds, specific issues, and through multiple elections, can become formidable.”
“Some recent history: so called national parties have come and gone; in 1992 was the great FORD. In 2002 was NARC. In 2008 was PNU, in 2017 was the mother of all parties Jubilee, likely to go the way of others,” he argued.
The two leaders had in mid-August joined forces with Gatundu South Member of Parliament Moses Kuria to create an interparty league to represent Mount Kenya interest come 2022. The central region’s succession politics has been a core discussion.
In a press briefing at the time, the three leaders declared that they would prioritise the region’s interests just like other leaders were doing.
They revealed that they would name the caucus “Limuru 3” and hold a conference in three months. Kiunjuri stated that the forum would invite different political parties.
The leaders dismissed calls to disband their parties and join one political party. The former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary maintained that his party would be on the ballot come 2022.
“We as TSP, are very clear that we will be on the ballot in 2022. The same way Narc Kenya and Chama Cha Kazi will be there. There is no question about it, we have made it very clear,” Kiunjuri declared at the time.
