Blow to Uhuru after Senator, MPs quit Jubilee after a State House meeting

Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party has suffered yet another setback after three key leaders allied to his party defected Monday morning to a newly formed party.

Led by Mandera senator Billow Kerrow, who was once a key ally of Uhuru, the leaders on Sunday received Mandera Council of Elders’ endorsement to launch new Economic Freedom Party.

In 2013, the council endorsed a single course for Uhuru Kenyatta’s party for his presidential candidature.

Other leaders who have already entered the new party include Mohamed Huka, MP for Mandera South, Fathia Mahbub, Woman Rep for Mandera, nominated member of parliament Hassan Omar and Mandera Deputy governor Omar Mohammed Maalim.

Earlier, the Mandera region was known for a negotiated democracy, a scheme in which the council of elders could nominate political leaders. The trend is now going against the grain as the August elections take shape.

In 2013, the current defectors were endorsed through a negotiated democracy to join the defunct United Republican Party. The politicians have cited frustration and negligence from the host party.

Ironically, Mandera leaders and other North Eastern regional leaders visited President Uhuru Kenyatta at State House in Nairobi, where during the visit; it is alleged that the Mandera leaders wanted direct nominations into Jubilee party. The deal allegedly went awry.

Speaking shortly after the hyped launch, Senator Billow Kerrow said that they have not made any negotiations with the two major factions as was the case in 2013.

“We cannot afford to be in Jubilee anymore, despite the votes we gave them in 2013. For now, we are neither in Jubilee nor NASA. We have our own vehicle. EFP is for the people of Mandera and we shall speak in one voice,” Kerrow said.

It is, however, not clear whether the party has a preferred candidate from the two major camps.

In 2013’s general elections, President Uhuru Kenyatta garnered 94,433 votes representing 93.2 per cent of votes cast iun the region against Raila Odinga’s merger 4,366 representing 4.3 per cent.