Jubilee Party suspends Jeremiah Kioni and David Murathe, resolves to leave Azimio

Suspended Jubilee Party Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni. [File, Standard]

Jubilee Party's National Executive Committee (NEC) has suspended Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni and replaced him with East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Member of Parliament Kanini Kega.

The party's NEC also resolved to leave the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Coalition.

The NEC meeting was held at Woodlands Hotel in Nakuru County on Friday, February 10.

The top decision-making organ of the party also resolved to kick out David Murathe as its National Vice-Chairperson and replaced him with Eldas Constituency Member of Parliament Adan Keynan.

Kagwe Gichohi has also been removed as the National Treasurer and replaced by Kitui South Member of Parliament Rachel Nyamai.

Interim appointments

Jubilee said the suspended members will be asked to appear before the Internal Dispute Resolution Committee for appropriate action.

The new appointments are interim until the party selects the substantive holders of the positions.

"The National Executive Committee has commenced the process of exiting the Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Coalition," said Jubilee Party's NEC in a press statement.

"The National Executive Committee will engage the ruling coalition [Kenya Kwanza] on the possibility of creating a working cooperation arrangement with it," added Jubilee.

State House visit

The NEC's decisions come on the back of divisions within Jubilee Party after close to 30 members visited President William Ruto at State House, Nairobi on Wednesday, February 8 and pledged to work with him.

The other section of its members, including the now-suspended Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni, stated that the Jubilee party was still firmly within the Azimio Coalition.

Nominated Member of Parliament Sabina Chege, Nominated Senator Margaret Kamar, Bahati Member of Parliament Irene Njoki Murembo and Nyamira Woman Representative Jerusha Momanyi have been appointed to the Jubilee Party's NEC to enable the decision-making organ comply with two-thirds gender rule.

The NEC is a top decision-making organ of the party with a role in party grassroots elections and nominations.