Wiper dumps Nasa, Muthama courts DP Ruto
The Wiper Party has formally walked out of the National Super Alliance (Nasa) as it starts engaging with the ruling Jubilee Party.
Wiper officials said they had taken the step to enter into a coalition with Jubilee Party after realising Nasa had “become totally dysfunctional”.
Secretary General Judith Sijeny said the party’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, held yesterday via zoom, resolved that Wiper engages Jubilee Party in line with the emerging political realignments in the country.
But the move to decamp from Nasa comes with repercussions as it means the party will lose all positions held in Parliament under the coalition banner.
Wiper holds the position of the Deputy minority Whip in the Senate, held by Makueni Senator Mutula Kilonzo jr, while in the National Assembly, Kathiani MP Robert Mbui is the Deputy Minority leader.
Asked whether the party was aware of the consequences, Ms Sijeny said: “We have weighed all the options and as a party we have chosen the ruling party way.”
She said that the Kalonzo Musyoka-led party cannot be in two coalitions at the same time.
She said the process to move out of Nasa will be concluded once the National Delegates Conference, to be convened soon, formalises the resolution.
And with the end of their engagements in Nasa so did the party part ways with former Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama who has formally been dismissed after the NEC adopted the report of the disciplinary committee that recommended the expulsion.
The council will write to the Registrar of Political Parties to have Muthama’s name struck off from the Party register.
Muthama had been accused of advancing Deputy President William Ruto’s agenda.
The party also blamed the former senator of failing to perform his duties as Wiper NEC member and also as the head of Nasa Coordination Committee, which he co-chairs with Senate Minority leader James Orengo.
Muthama was also accused of spreading propaganda and hate among the rank and file of the party membership.
Show cause letter
“You have been associating yourself with other political parties and politicians who are adversaries of our movement in total disregard of the provisions of the Political Parties Act and the movement rules and regulation,” chairman Chirau Mwakwere said in a letter to Muthama.
But even before the party took the drastic action, Muthama had announced his exit saying he is considering forming a new party.
In his response to a show cause letter from Wiper, the outspoken politician said he left the party in 2017 due to frustrations from the party leadership.
“I wish you the best in your endeavour and I look forward to politically engage in 2022 when I shall face Wiper and other political parties with my party, God willing,” Muthama.
