Matters came to a head last week during the defection from the Opposition CORD coalition by Mombasa politicians Suleiman Shahbal and Ramadhan Kajembe.
Officials from The National Alliance (TNA), the United Republican Party (URP) and the Republican Congress accused the JAP officials of not recognizing them during the defection ceremony. Since the 2013 general elections, officials of the TNA and the URP wings of the coalition have spurred several times, accusing each other of taking over state jobs meant for one another.
Ibrahim Khamis Babangida, Mining Cabinet Mining Secretary Najib Balala?s Republican Congress party?s candidate for the Mombasa County gubernatorial post in the last election warned that there was a likelihood of a fall-out in JAP if its officials will not handle future defections into the party better.
He said they will ride on ongoing State-led land reforms to popularise the Jubilee administration in the region. ?I can confirm that there are informal talks between officials of Jubilee parties. The leaders that are dissatisfied with Cord leadership but I cannot divulge more information on that because such could jeopardize the talks,? he said.
But the TNA Coast Coordinator, Farid Swaleh said that there was still mistrust among Jubilee officials and called on the President to intervene.
?I must say that it will take time before the differences are ironed out but I?ve already secured 10 buses that will be used to popularize the President?s party in Mombasa. All we are asking is respect from the new members,? said Farid.
TNA Nominated Senator Emma Mbura yesterday, however, took to the social media to castigate the new members claiming they were undermining the old ones.
JAP National Chairman Nelson Dzuya said that party was currently concentrating on solving mistrust of constituent parties.
?Slowly but surely members of both constituent parties are coming to terms with the fact that JAP will be fair to all members. We?re keen on bringing everyone on board who will help us win the 2017 poll,? said Dzuya.
However we established that there are two JAP factions in Mombasa County. The first faction is led by Peterson Mittau and the other by Ali Mwatsahu and both claim leadership of the party.
?Shahbal and Kajembe wanted to by-pass local officials and even elbow them out but it should not be seen as if we don?t welcome them. It is a big boost to our party,? said Mittau.
TNA?s executive director, Joseph Mathai told The Standard on Sunday that the party?s chairmen from the 47 counties held a meeting in Nairobi on Friday to defuse fears and tension created after the establishment of JAP.
?Some members had expressed fear of losing their positions but as top leadership we assured them nobody will be shortchanged in JAP,? said Mathai.
Mombasa JAP officials said they have also started talks with other CORD rebel leaders at the Coast ahead of the expected June roll-out of the new outfit?s road map to popularise itself at the region.
On Friday, Kajembe, a former Changamwe MP, was in a meeting with 15 ODM ward chairmen in a Mombasa hotel in what is said was to be meant to lure them to JAP.
Kajembe said consultations between officials of constituent parties were going on to ?form a strong and all inclusive interim committee to steer the JAP activities in the region.?
?The ideal situation is we should hold election to elect officials of the party but we know it is very soon. We are consulting with all the members to come up with an interim committee to take on any opposition,? said Kajembe.
He said that his meeting with the ward chairman resolved that they will not only defect but also paint their offices with JAP colors.
Mombasa Senator, Hassan Omar, last week told The Standard on Sunday that Kajembe?s defection was insignificant, but yesterday Kajembe hit back calling Omar an ?amateur? politician who was rigged in by CORD leaders.
During the defection, Shahbal and JAP officials led by Chairman Nelson Dzuya said that Shahbal had the blessings of President Uhuru Kenyatta and his Deputy William Ruto.
By Bernard Sanga and Mwangi Muraguri, The Standard
