Former Nairobi Deputy Governor Jonathan Mueke has joined the United Green Movement (UGM) party as co-secretary-general and believes that it is the political outfit that can unite Kenyans by delivering on their basic needs.
His move on Friday morning, September 25, comes exactly two weeks since he resigned from the Wiper Democratic Movement party.
When he formally defected, it was not clear whether Mueke would declare interest for the Kitui governor or Senate seat.
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"Today we start a journey with other progressive and like-minded Kenyans to bring the change we seek. This is the reason I chose to change my political party affiliation," he said at Green Action House, the Party’s headquarters on 82 Westlands Road in Nairobi County.
Mueke said it is clear that things keep getting worse for the majority of Kenyans.
"It has become difficult to get a job, pay school fees, and put food on the table. From today I shall lead with others the party that will deliver on the aspiration of Kenyans," he said.
The former Nairobi deputy governor, having served for one term under Dr. Evans Kidero, said the country’s economy is at its worst state ever with the rate of unemployment and intensified corruption in the country begging for transformative leadership.
"Even in the middle of this pandemic, people have stolen money set aside to save lives. We must remind ourselves how countries such as Zimbabwe, Sudan and most recently Mali, have their governments toppled by citizens protesting against failing economies; bad governance and corruption," he said, flanked by Agostinho Neto, the party’s leader.
In view of his observations about the failed economies, Mueke stated, such disruption can not be allowed in Kenya.
“We, therefore, must mobilise ourselves to radically change the way we do our politics, change the kind of leaders we elect, change the way we manage our country. If we do not wake up and lead this change, the ticking time bomb will explode and wananchi will take the law into their own hands….then we shall all regret,” he added.
His move also comes two months after former Machakos Senator Johnston Muthama ditched Wiper, which is he headed by former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, saying it was a tribal outfit.
Neto welcomed Mueke to the outfit, saying that the party is embarking on a national drive to mobilise Kenyans of like minds to support the transformative agenda, which defines UGM’s national objectives.
Currently, the party is pushing for the dissolution of Parliament for failing to enact the two-thirds fender law.
Female political leaders allied to the party on Wednesday gave President Uhuru Kenyatta 21 days to act by sending the 416 legislators home.
“A couple of lawyers are misinterpreting Article 261 (8) which states that a fresh Parliament will enact that law,” he added.
He said, if the President fails to dissolve Parliament by October 13, 2020, being the period the women gave him, Neto said, the party will have no option, but to mobilize Kenyans to evict the lawmakers.
