After the DP and his allies were barred from accessing the Jubilee Party’s Headquarters in Pangani, they had resorted to the launch of Jubilee Asili quarters that would serve as their political nerve centre.
The Nation on Sunday, December 27, reported that the owner of their new offices in Kilimani’s Makindi Road had asked them to leave, on grounds that the premise had not been licensed to host political proceedings.
The publication further reported that a visit to the once open offices on December 26, established that the DP’s camp had already left following the eviction. The Jubilee Asili banner had also been brought down.
There was no security guard at the gate, there were empty parking lots and rooms were filled with dust, showing no recent activity at the once Jubilee Asili centre.
Reports indicated that plans to fully operationalise Jubilee Asili Centre by the end of August 2020, had been set back by the contraction of Covid-19 by some of its members.
DP Ruto’s allies revealed that there had been a back and forth between them and the landlord, who had since October 2020 asking them to vacate the premises.
Some of DP Ruto’s allies alleged that the government had been intimidating the landlord forcing him to evict them.
“We are tussling with the owner, the government has told the owner to throw us out of and he has requested us to leave, but we are still negotiating. This drama started approximately two months ago and that is why we decided to lie low as we try to reach an agreement,” an MP who sought anonymity was quoted as saying.
“The landlord is in an embarrassing situation because he is being bullied by being told that a number of his things will go wrong and he has not processed the change of the user. The government is using all means to frustrate our landlord and scuttle our plans for 2022. We were ready to buy the building but he has been reluctant to sell it o us. We do not wish to reveal him,” the MP added.
Kimilili Member of Parliament Didmus Barasa alleged that the centre had to be shut down following persistent frustration from the government.
“We closed down Jubilee Asili Centre. We had rented that property but the person we rented it from was intimidated by the government to terminate that contract and not allow us to meet,” Barasa stated, further, abstaining to reveal details of the landlord.
This comes after the DP failed attempt to use the Jubilee Party’s headquarters to hold meetings with top party officials.
Jubilee Secretary General Raphael Tuju had revealed that a consultative meeting held by the party’s National Management Committee (NMC) resulted in a ban on Ruto and his allies against using its premises for political campaigns.
“The NMC has recommended to NEC that the DP ceases to be deputy party leader after he opened the so-called Jubilee Asili offices that are reserved for him and his allies until such a time this development of the Jubilee Asili is discussed at the NEC,” Tuju had stated.
Source: KENYAGIST.COM
