Ruto Hosts Jubilee MPs At State House, Assents To IEBC Bill [PHOTOS]

President William Ruto on Monday, January 23 held a working breakfast at State House in Nairobi with Members of Parliament (MP) allied to the Jubilee Party, an affiliate of the Raila Odinga-led Azimio la Umoja coalition.

The meeting was attended by, among others, former and current Jubilee MPs among them East Africa Legislation Assembly (EALA) MP Kanini Kega and lawmaker, Sabina Chege. 

Others in attendance included David Kiaraho (Ol Kalou), Irene Njoki (Bahati), Zachary Kwenya (Kinangop), Shadrack Mwiti (South Imenti), Mark Mwenje (Embakasi West), Amos Mwago (Starehe), Daniel Karitho (Igembe Central), Stanley Muthama (Lamu West) and Joseph Githuku (Lamu).

After the meeting, Ruto called for leaders to work together to progress the country, emphasizing the need for unity and inclusivity.

From right to left: President William Ruto, Nominated MP Sabina Chege and Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua pose at State House, Nairobi on Monday, January 23, 2023. /PCS

"We must build a bigger and better team that will work together to effectively prosecute the agenda of the people of Kenya. We cannot move our country forward by leaving others behind," stated Ruto.

The meeting came a day after Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua disclosed that he intended to lead in talks with the opposing coalition.

He further called upon the President to allocate him a couple of weeks so that he, alongside the Kenya Kwanza government ensures that the opposition embraces good behaviour before he goes after the cartels affecting the coffee, tea and milk sectors.

"Mr President please leave alone matters concerning Raila Odinga, we are here. From tomorrow, we will arrange how we will have a sit-down with the opposition. Regarding the public rallies, we are aware.

"So you will allow us space of one or two weeks we straighten them up, after which we will deal with the cartels concerning coffee, tea and milk," he requested during a church service held at Kerugoya Stadium in Kirinyaga County on Sunday, January 22.

Raila meanwhile jetted into the country from his one-week visit to South Africa and is currently at Kamukunji grounds for a Baraza to lay out the interests of the country. This comes amidst reports of a dossier by a whistleblower on the August 9 presidential election claiming that Raila was rigged out of victory in the polls.

At the same time, President Ruto signed the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) (Amendment) Bill into law, having been considered and passed by the Senate.

“The Bill — which was considered and passed by the Senate last week — sought to alter the composition of the Selection Panel that oversees the filling of vacant positions in the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission,” read in part a dispatch from State House, Nairobi.

With President Ruto’s signature, the allocation of the Parliamentary Service Commission (PSC) slots in the IEBC commissioners’ selection panel has been reduced from the current four to two.

“It further allows the Political Parties Liaison Committee to each nominate one member to the Panel. This translates to a Panel that will consist of one member each drawn from the Public Service Commission, Political Parties Liaison Committee and the Law Society of Kenya.”

Additionally, the Parliamentary Service Commission and the Inter-religious Council of Kenya will each have two members. That makes it a total of 7 members.

IEBC is currently under the leadership of Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Marjan Hussein Marjan after the exit of former Chairman Wafula Chebukati, and commissioners Boya Molu and Professor Abdi Guliye, whose six-year term ended last week.

Former IEBC Vice Chair Juliana Cherera, and former Commissioners Justus Nyong’aya and Francis Wanderi resigned from the Commission following their suspension and the formation of a tribunal to investigate them. Only Masit remains, who chose to face the tribunal headed by Justice Aggrey Muchelule.