Jubilee finally implements leadership changes as Uhuru seizes full control

After more than two years of internal wrangling, former President Uhuru Kenyatta has regained full control of the Jubilee Party and engineered a radical purge of the party’s coup plotters.  

In an official statement, Jubilee secretary general Jeremiah Kioni announced a sweeping overhaul of the party's National Executive Committee, kicking out members aligned with a breakaway faction.

The move consolidates Uhuru’s leadership as he prepares to front Fred Matiang'i as the party’s presidential aspirant. 

The purge mainly targeted members aligned with the ruling Kenya Kwanza Coalition, but did not strip them of party membership.

“Following the Special National Delegates Convention of May 22, 2023, the Consent E1016 of 2023 and the court order in Case E1016 of 2016, the Jubilee Party wishes to notify the public of changes to its NEC,” Kioni said.

The purge expelled Jubilee Party National Chairman Nelson Dzuya, who has been replaced by Uhuru loyalist Saitoti Torome. 

Also removed from the NEC and other party positions were nominated MP Sabina Chege and Eala lawmaker Kanini Kega.

Chege initially had been installed as the new party leader, with Kega as secretary general, by a rebel faction allied to the two.

Also removed were former MPs Jimmy Angwenyi (Kitutu Chache North), Naomi Shaban (Taita Taveta) and Joshua Kutuny (Cherengany).

Others were Mutava Musyimi, Racheal Nyamai, Advise Mundalo, Joel Kibe and NEC executive director Wambui Gichuru.

Jubilee has retained Uhuru as the party leader and Kioni as the secretary general.

Beatrice Gambo has been installed as deputy party leader in charge of strategy, Kudos Muiruri as deputy in charge of outreach and Joseph Manje as deputy in charge of programmes.

Longtime Uhuru loyalist David Murathe retained the position of vice national chairman, with Yasin Noor installed as the deputy secretary general.

Kagwe Gichoni is the national treasurer, MP Ruweida Mohamed deputy national treasurer and Garissa Senator Abdulkadir Haji the national organising secretary.

Also in the new team are Pauline Njoroge (deputy national organising secretary), Maison Leshomo (Women's League national chairperson) and Angel Mbuthia (youth league national chairperson).

Others are Wanja Maina (PWD national chairperson), Njenga Mungai (council of elders national chairperson) and Udgoon Siyad (Parliament secretary).

The leadership shake-up follows a protracted legal battle. In May 2023, Jubilee cracked down on dissenters during its National Delegates Conference (NDC) held at Ngong Racecourse, Nairobi. It resolved to restructure its NEC. 

However, the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal halted the changes after Dzuya and other rebels filed a petition, arguing the SNDC was not properly convened.

Uhuru’s camp appealed, saying  the party leader has the authority to call meetings of any party organisation at any time, even without the standard seven-day notice.

Earlier this month, the High Court upheld the resolutions made during the May 2023 NDC, effectively affirming Uhuru’s leadership and nullifying changes introduced by the rival faction led by Kega and Chege.

The ruling followed a consent filed by Dzuya, acknowledging the legitimacy of the SNDC. He submitted the consent through lawyer Jackson Awele, with support from Jubilee's Internal Disputes Resolution Committee, now represented by lawyer Franklin Mwendani.

During the hearing, Awele argued that the dispute had been resolved and that the IDRC was functus officio (its role having ended). He also questioned the legal capacity of the IDRC to sue or be sued, stating:

“The appellant is a political party funded by public funds. Prudence dictates that party resources be used to manage the party effectively, not to waste them on leadership wrangles. It is in the public interest that this appeal be resolved in the terms proposed in the consent dated March 10, 2025,” Awele said.

Instant analysis

In the 2023 SNDC, the party kicked out errant disloyal members and resolved to appoint new ones to Jubilee's National Executive Committee (NEC). Dzuya and his faction successfully countered that move, through the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal, which ruled SNDC not properly convened. Uhuru's side later appealed the tribunal ruling, arguing the Jubilee Party leader may convene any party organisation at any time with or without seven days’ notice.