12 Wednesday, April 22, 2020 www.pd.co.ke // www.epaper.peopledaily.co.ke NO.07049 .HQ\D·V )5(( 1HZVSDSHU We’ll not quit Jubilee, but are ready for other options, say Ruto allies PAGE 2 10 more die in flooding mayhem P12-13 Heavy rains pounding country cause havoc in Kisumu, Kericho, Migori, Nakuru, Narok and Garissa as more people remain unaccounted for in the freak Marakwet mudslide that claimed 12, left 400 homeless. PD/VIOLA KOSOME $07*% )05-*/&4 > 719 > 0800721316 > 0729471414 Nairobi, Mombasa > 0732353535 296 confirmed risk total lockdown cases 74 recovered 14 deaths Coronavirus:Interior Principal secretary Karanja 15 tested positive in the last 24 hours, Kibicho says government 7 males and 8 will impose more stringent females. measures as he blames the business-as-usual 206 cases in attitude in two Covid-19 Nairobi epicentres for alarming rise 61 in virus infections, which cases in reached 296 yesterday after Mombasa confirmation of 15 cases 14,417 PAGES 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 14,15 & 16 total samples tested so far. Voluntary salary cuts in the public service P. 5 The President 80% Deputy President 80% Cabinet Secretaries 30% Principal Secretaries 20% Sh280,000 from a Sh240,000 Sh640,000 Sh610,000 monthly salary of Sh1.44 million from Sh1.22 million a month from Sh924,000 per month from Sh765,000 a month NEWS BEAT PEOPLE DAILY / Wednesday, April 22, 2019 WEATHER TODAY /&84#&"51"(& 803-%/&841"(& Nairobi 22° Nyeri 23° 1PMJDFUPPWFSTFFBMMCVSJBMT 5SVNQSFWFBMTQMBOUPTVTQFOE Mombasa 31° Kitui 26° JO,JMJàDPVOUZ TBZT,JOHJ JNNJHSBUJPOUPUIF64 Kisumu 26° Wajir 31° 0XUDQJ·D 5XWRZRQ·WTXLW WHDIDUPHUV -XELOHHIRUQHZ ZHOFRPHQHZ JXLGHOLQHV SDUW\VD\VDOO\ Tea farmers in Murang’a county have lauded Agriculture Cabinet Sec- retary Peter Munya (pictured) for his Kositany says forming of the National Governing Council and the guidelines seeking to eliminate cartels National Delegates Convention, ensures all in the sub-sector. another outfit not in the decisions made are implemented and all The farmers allied to Kanyenyaini policies adhered to. tea factory on Monday expressed their cards, but DP’s wing According to the party law, NEC also en- support for the remedies outlined by exploring other ‘options’ sures proper order, discipline, and strict the CS last week, saying if fully imple- adherence to the party’s constitution, mented, farmers would benefit from by–laws, and party policies by all officials, the crop. by Eric Wainaina members, and all organs of the party. Last week Munya announced new @PeopleDailyKe For the past one year, the ruling party rules to guide the sector and promised has been caught up in high-octane infight- to investigate the Kenya Tea Develop- Deputy President William Ruto allies are ing touching on the push for internal elec- ment Agency (KTDA) over claims of ex- exploring new avenues to remain relevant tions, demands for a parliamentary group ploiting farmers. Among other things, in Jubilee Party even as they vowed they meeting, and perceived sidelining of Ruto the government has outlawed the sale won’t quit the ruling outfit. in the management of the party. of tea outside the auction since this Sources privy to the intrigues within the The wrangles escalated last week fol- was used by KTDA barons to sell the party told People Daily that Ruto’s confi- lowing a move by the wing led by Party produce cheaply to select buyers. dants had agreed to explore “other ways” Secretary General Raphael Tuju to change Registered auction organisers were to ensure the DP has a vehicle to run for the the membership of National Management also directed to establish an electronic presidency in 2022 if their current push for Committee (NMC), a move that was Ruto trading platform. Factories shall be al- control of the party collapses. and 146 MPs from both the National As- lowed to sell their tea directly at the According to the source, the Ruto wing sembly and the Senate. They claim the auction and brokers will be limited to plans to brainstorm on the matter once the changes contravene the party constitution. services of not more than 15 factories. country contains the Covid-19 pandemic. “We are not just sitting here...we have Party constitution No accountability other options that we are exploring if our The Soy MP wrote a protest letter to the Led by Wambugu Gachunje, the push fails,” said the source. Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu farmers lamented that for many years, And speaking separately, Soy MP Caleb claiming the change of officials was ef- Deputy President Wlliam Ruto at a past event. His allies say he they had been losing cash to cartels Kositany said Ruto had no plans of form- fected using falsified minutes, which he will stay put in Jubilee Party despite infighting. PD/FILE and middlemen. ing another party despite the infighting in claims were forged by Tuju because NMC They criticised KTDA, saying it had ruling Jubilee. never met. even as the actions continue to push the failed farmers despite being entrusted The MP, who is also Jubilee deputy secre- Kositany wants the Registrar to furnish WHAT IS party into murky waters. to market smallholder farmers prod- tary general, yesterday said the DP will stay him with documents including minutes THE ISSUE? Tuju did not respond to our queries on uct. The farmers said there has been no put and deliver the promises he and presi- of meetings allegedly held by the NMC, the matter, but in a recent brutal rebuttal accountability, transparency and fair dent Uhuru Kenyatta made to Kenyans. documents received regarding change of The infighting to the DP allies, he rubbished claims that competition in the marketing of tea. Ruto and Uhuru appear to have fallen the party constitution as well as any filings in Jubilee has he has been causing problems in the party, “We thank the President and the out, with the party rocked by supremacy of the party returned and a certified copy been escalated saying whatever has happened (changes of minister for coming up with new di- wars between their two camps. The Presi- of the Jubilee Constitution deposited with by a move by the officials) is within the law. rectives aimed to increase earnings dent’s relationship with his deputy was the office. wing led by Tuju He defended the changes, saying they for tea farmers” said Wambugu. to change the further complicated by the March, 2018 Another Ruto ally, Baringo North MP were made long before coronavirus was Another farmer, Njeri Waithaka said membership of handshake between Uhuru and Opposi- William Cheptumo said the list of new of- reported in the country, dismissing asser- each of KTDA tea factories should have tion leader Raila Odinga, which seems to ficials does not bother them, but rather the National Man- agement Com- tions by the pro-Ruto wing suggesting the at most two directors to minimise ex- have sidelined the DP. manner in which they sneaked in. changes gazetted by the Registrar of Politi- penditure on the directors. Top DP allies want Tuju and party chair- mittee. Piling pressure cal Parties on April 6 were sneaked in as the “This time the country is faced by man Nelson Dzuya removed from the party country battled Covid-19. Covid-19 pandemic, there are no di- Kositany, a key Ruto ally, revealed that Ruto and 146 to pave way for Kositany’s ascendancy to MPs from both However, a senior MP allied to the pro- rectors at the factories yet operations leaving the party to create another political the secretary general’s post. the National Uhuru Kieleweke faction warned that the are going on well. We need only two out was not in the cards. The Soy MP, one of the vocal Ruto loyal- Assembly and silence among the President’s supporters directors per factory,” she said. “We have no plans to form another party. ists in the Tanga Tanga faction of the ruling the Senate have should not be misconstrued to mean they We are not leaving Jubilee unless they (op- party, appeared to acknowledge that con- resisted the were cowards, adding that the “take-over ponents), come with guns. If the law is ap- troversial Jubilee vice chair David Murathe, changes. plot” by DP allies did not stand a chance. plied and the Political Parties Act observed, who has been critical of the DP, still held The lawmaker, who wished not to be there will be no reason for us to form an- onto the post despite have declared that he But Tuju named, said DP allies were fighting a los- other party,” he told People Daily. defended the had resigned. ing battle. The MP was responding to calls by some changes, saying “We are dealing with very dishonest “Remember Jubilee Party leadership party members and DP supporters, who they were made people. Murathe was supposed to resign sometimes back met with the Communist have been piling pressure on him to quit long before in writing but he only announced it on TV Party of China (CPC) leadership? The party the ruling party to avoid humiliation. coronavirus was meaning he is still the vice chair. We don’t is operating like the China’s ruling party But Kositany was cagey on Ruto’s next reported in the have any problem with him. We can have which is controlled by its leader,” the MP course of action, only concurring that the country. him as the chairman because if the current said, suggesting that Uhuru’s word was matter could only be dealt with after the chairman leaves, he will automatically be- final as far as the party affairs were con- pandemic.