Kioni: Our ouster is a political witch hunt, let's meet in court

Former Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni has filed an appeal in court, seeking to overturn his ouster from the Jubilee Party leadership.

Two days ago, the Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu approved his ouster after the party's National Executive Council met in Nakuru on February 10.

She said the council adhered to the party's constitution and was thus properly convened.

In an affidavit sworn by Kioni on February 16, and seen by The Standard, the former lawmaker argued that the decision to axe him and others from Jubilee party leadership was influenced politically.

"In light of the totality of the above circumstances it is clear that impugned suspension decision and the subsequent ratification by the Registrar was actuated by ulterior political motives and was otherwise a nullity. The same is for setting aside forthwith," Kioni says.

"It is just and fair that the Appeal be allowed,"

He also adds that they were not served or called for disciplinary as is required by the party's constitution.

"We should have been informed of the charges against us or at the very least served with show cause letters well in advance of the said meeting to enable us defend ourselves and to confront our accusers. Instead we were guillotined unheard and the Registrar gladly ratified the same,"

Kioni has filed the petition alongside David Murathe, Hon Kagwe Gichohi and the party.

The petition has been filed against the office of the registrar of political parties and Joshua Kutuny.

The communication by the arbiter of political party affairs fans the flames of revolution in former President Uhuru Kenyatta's party and scuttles attempts by embattled leaders to kick out some of its members who have aligned themselves with President William Ruto.

The resolutions of that meeting, which have been protested by Kioni, also saw Kagwe Gichohi removed as Jubilee National Treasurer. The NEC meeting also considered Jubilee's exit from Azimio.

The party picked East African Legislative Assembly MP Kanini Kega as secretary general, Eldas MP Adan Keynan as vice chairperson while Kitui South MP Rachel Nyamai took Gichohi's place in an interim capacity.

But the RPP cautioned about the exit from Azimio, insisting that it must follow the provisions of the coalition agreement.

"With respect to exiting from the coalition political party, kindly observe the provisions of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition agreement and the role of respective party organs," she notes.