Acting Jubilee Secretary-General Kanini Kega (left) addressing the media in Nairobi where he announced that they had de-whipped Uhuru Kenyatta as party leader and appointed Sabina Chege (right) in an acting capacity. [Denis Kibuchi, Standard]
A faction of the Jubilee Party led by Acting Secretary-General Kanini Kega now claims to have ousted former President Uhuru Kenyatta as its party leader.
The faction has named nominated MP Sabina Chege as Kenyatta's replacement, amid continued infighting within the party.
In a statement on Tuesday, May 2, Kega claimed that Kenyatta ceased to hold office in March 2023.
According to Kega, the Constitution does not allow a retired president to hold office in any political party for more than six months.
In his replacement, the team named nominated Member of Parliament Sabina Chege as the acting Jubilee Party Leader.
"By operation of section 6(1) of the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act, the former party leader [Uhuru Kenyatta] ceased to hold office as Jubilee Party leader in March 2023. The office of the party leader is hereby declared vacant and Sabina Chege will be the acting Party Leader of Jubilee," said Kega.
His remarks come days after Kenyatta is said to have held a meeting with some Jubilee members including David Murathe on April 28, 2023.
In the said meeting, the party leader had issued resignation letters for some of the members, an action that Kega claims to be political misconduct.
"Any communication from him [Uhuru Kenyatta] cannot bind the party and is of no legal consequences. His misconduct issue is hereby referred to the National Disciplinary Committee of the party for further action," he said.
There has been a division in the Jubilee Party with some of its members supporting Jeremiah Kioni, and others, Kanini Kega.
On Tuesday last week, Jubilee was ordered to vacate the premises they use as their headquarters after Kioni and Kega's supporters clashed over the party leadership.
