Former President Uhuru Kenyatta will remain the leader of the Jubilee Party, with former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i expected to be his deputy.
Multiple sources confirmed to the Star that Matiang’i will formally join Jubilee and immediately assume a senior role during the upcoming delegates' conference.
“How and why should he (Uhuru) retire? He wants to mentor young leaders so that by the time he leaves, the party is strong,” a party member said.
The party will hold the special national delegates conference (SNDC) on Friday, where radical changes, including amendments to the party constitution, will be ratified.
“What I can tell you, without a doubt, is that Matiang’i will attend the SNDC. He will join the party and be given a leadership position,” another source intimated.
However, the move has sparked protests from a rival faction led by nominated MP Sabina Chege, who accused Uhuru’s team of sidelining them.
“We are the elected members, yet we have not been informed or invited to the NDC. I only saw the notice in the media,” Chege said.
None of those in the splinter group has announced decamping from the party, she added, wondering why they have not been invited.
Deputy secretary general Pauline Njoroge neither denied nor confirmed the news of Matiang’is joining.
“Let us wait for the day. We have the agenda in the notice we issued, but the finer details of who will join or not is something that we need to wait and see,” Njoroge said.
Sources say the party has amended its constitution—expanding its leadership structure and accommodating the youth.
The new changes will be ratified during the SNDC.
Besides the constitution, the party is also set to radically change faces in its leadership, with insiders indicating Uhuru is keen to give the outfit the ‘face of Kenya.’
“Jubilee is a national party and that must be reflected in its leadership. That is why we are changing the constitution so that we can accommodate more people,” the source said.
Early this month, the party announced it would be holding the SNDC this Friday.
“Pursuant to Article 8.1 and 10.1 of the Jubilee Party constitution, 21 days' notice is hereby issued for a Special National Delegates Convention to be held at the Jockey Club, Nairobi, Kenya,” the notice reads.
The agenda includes receiving a status report from the National Executive Committee (NEC), reviewing and formulating party policies and considering other key matters affecting the party.
The announcement came just hours after Uhuru chaired a Jubilee NEC meeting, the first since the conclusion of a string of legal battles that had cast uncertainty over the party's leadership and direction.
While Uhuru did not attend the meeting in person, he participated virtually, signalling his continued commitment to the party’s leadership.
In a statement issued after the NEC session, the party outlined that discussions had centred on evaluating Jubilee’s roadmap with the view of rebuilding its structures across the country.
“The meeting deliberated on key issues affecting the party, including a comprehensive review of party affairs, progress made on ongoing programmes and strategic plans for reinvigorating the party’s structures and operations,” the statement read.
Njoroge highlighted the meeting’s significance, emphasising that the party remains steadfast in its role as part of the opposition and is committed to defending the rights and interests of Kenyans, especially amid a rapidly shifting political landscape.
“This was a crucial meeting that marks a significant step in reaffirming the Jubilee Party’s ideals, strategic direction and internal unity,” she said.
The Special NDC is expected to set the stage for Jubilee’s renewed efforts under Uhuru’s leadership.
The former President regained full control of the party following a prolonged legal battle, culminating in a High Court ruling in September 2024 and a subsequent gazette notice in June 2025 that reinstated him and his team as the legitimate party leadership.
The Jubilee Party previously announced Matiang’i as its presidential candidate.
“We have settled on Matiang’i as our candidate,” the party's secretary general, Jeremiah Kioni, confirmed at the time.
“Not to mean that he becomes the eventual presidential candidate, but a candidate within the party who will join others in selecting a unified opposition contender.”
A ‘Mr Fix It’ in Uhuru’s administration, he is viewed as a formidable force within the opposition, with his credentials as a reformer being touted.
Although the former CS is also seen as Uhuru’s “ project”, with some critics claiming the move is a ploy to propel the former head of state back to power through proxy, Matiang'i has emerged as a key contender for the top seat in the 2027 elections.
Backed by Uhuru, who is financially powerful and politically connected, Matiang’i also enjoys growing support from Gen Z voters—a critical and energised electoral bloc.
Matiang’i’s name resurfaced during the Gen Z-led protests last year and has remained prominent online, with young people vigorously promoting him for President.
“Matiang’i, you either come out or we come for you. We need you for President in 2027, na sio tafadhali [and we’re not asking politely],” one viral Gen Z post read.
Known for his tough stance on security, governance and public service reform, Matiang’i was one of the most influential figures in the Uhuru Cabinet.
His reputation as a decisive and effective administrator has amplified the calls for his return to the national stage.
Political analyst Prof Kaburu Kinoti said Matiang’i's appeal lies in his strength, which could match President William Ruto’s.
“Matiang’i is tough and that is good, especially facing someone like President Ruto. Even if the opposition loses, they will be able to keep the government in check,” he said.
Kinoti said while Uhuru may not have officially endorsed anyone, a Kalonzo-Matiang’i ticket is a potential formula, given their ties to the former President.
The former CS has also gained traction in Mt Kenya, a critical vote bloc that could determine the outcome of the presidential race.
Instant Analysis
Uhuru Kenyatta regained full control of the Jubilee Party following a High Court ruling that validated key resolutions made during the party’s National Delegates Convention (NDC) in May 2023. The Civil Division of the Milimani High Court allowed a consent filed by the party’s legal team and key respondents, effectively overturning a previous decision by the Internal Disputes Resolution Committee (IDRC) that had nullified the NDC.
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