The fight for the control and restructuring of Ole Kiyapi’s Restore and Build Kenya (RBK) by Kiraitu Murungi has derailed the Governor’s plans ahead of the 2022 general election.
Addressing the media this afternoon, the Party’s new Secretary General Mugambi Imanyara says Governor Murungi is not willing to heed to Ole Kiyapi’s demands for 274 Million for the party.
Kiraitu’s team consisting of several 2022 contestants and a section of MCAs had already started popularizing the new party, rebranded to Devolution Empowerment Party (DEP).
Earlier on, Ole Kiyapi through Mr Aloysius Okoth Mondoh and Mr Peter Gordon Ochieng Odeng had contested the takeover of RBK at the Political Parties Tribunal, a bid that was rejected.
The DEP is associated with politicians from Meru, Embu and Tharaka-Nithi counties. Mr Murungi has said he will defend his seat on a DEP ticket.
The DEP symbol is a bus, which was used by Mr Murungi’s Alliance Party of Kenya (APK). The APK was collapsed alongside 12 others to form Jubilee in 2016. However, the dispute over how much RBK is worth might derail the take over plan.
In a sworn affidavit, Mr Imanyara says when the complainants filed the case at the tribunal on August 12, he requested Mr Murungi and Mr Kivuti to arbitrate the matter.
A meeting between Mr Mondoh and another individual whose identity Mr Imanyara says he does not know was held at Humphrey & Company LLP offices in Nairobi, where Mr Kivuti was also present.
“During the meeting, Mr Mondoh made many demands to the chairman and myself so as to withdraw the matter. Among the demands was that the chairman and I pay him approximately Sh273,383,373,” the documents say.
Mr Imanyara says the money was broken into legal fees of Sh706,000, the value of external investments which are not specified – one to be paid Sh34,933,602 and the other Sh237,527,840
Mr Imanyara says after he and his team refused to honour the demand, Mr Mondoh said he would ensure they do not get control of the party. He says the claimants are on an extortion mission. Mr Mondoh denied the extortion accusation.
“We are ready to explore all avenues to get justice. It costs a lot to register a party,” he said.
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