Jubilee Party NDC resolves to join Azimio la Umoja, back joint presidential candidate

The President Uhuru Kenyatta-led ruling Jubilee Party has now officially resolved to join the Azimio la Umoja movement and settle on a joint presidential candidate ahead of the August showdown.

President Kenyatta made the declaration during the party’s National Delegates Convention (NDC) held at the KICC in Nairobi on Saturday.

The Head of State, through a consensus, appealed to the delegates to join other like-minded parties and coalitions such as the One Kenya Alliance (OKA) and the Raila Odinga-led ODM that had already pledged support for the Azimio la Umoja movement.

“Mimi niko hapa mbele yenu nikiwaomba ruhusa ya kufanya kazi na vyama tofauti ambayo vikra zao ni za kufanya kazi bila kubagua wewe ni nani na unatoka wapi,” said President Kenyatta to the Jubilee delegates.

“Mtanipatia hiyo ruhusa jameni? Mtaniunga mkono? Nimeskia kule kwa ODM wakisema wataingia Azimio…Nimeskia ndugu yangu Kalonzo kule OKA wakisema wataingia Azimio…Mnataka Azimio ama hamtaki?” He posed as the delegates responded in affirmation.

The Head of State consequently called on the Jubilee Party to rally behind the joint candidate fielded in the pact with Azimio la Umoja to square it out with Deputy William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza camp in the polls.

"Sisi kama Jubilee tunajua umuhimu wa kuungana na kufanya kazi. ODM nimeskia wanataka kuleta jina ya Raila Odinga, OKA nimeskia wanataka kutuletea jina la Kalonzo Musyoka, si ni sawa?" He posed. 

"Si sasa tukiingiana pamoja tutatoa ndume mmoja wa kuenda kupigana na wale wakora upande ule mwingine tufagie dunia?"

At the same time, President Kenyatta stated that the party which has long been termed as ‘dead’ has now resurfaced and will make its impact felt in the country’s politics.

“Some thought that our party had died but we have raised the country’s economy from Ksh.5 trillion to Ksh.11 trillion…Wataona ya kwamba chama kimeguruma na kimeanza kazi," hestated.

On Friday, Jubilee signed agreements with several parties including; the Party of National Unity, United Progressive Alliance (UPA), Kenya Union Party (KUP) and Pamoja African Alliance (PAA).

This came shortly after ODM had earlier made made the announcement to join Azimio la Umoja and field Odinga as its presidential flag bearer.