Former President Uhuru Kenyatta is officially back as the Jubilee Party leader. The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) confirmed this through a gazette notice. This followed a High Court order that upheld the resolutions from the party’s Special National Delegates Convention (SNDC) held on May 22, 2023. The Registrar’s action ends over a year of leadership wrangles and reaffirms Kenyatta’s authority in the party.
The same notice also reinstated Jeremiah Kioni as Secretary-General, David Murathe as Deputy Party Leader, and Saitoti Torome as National Chairperson. Beatrice Gambo retained her role as Deputy Party Leader in charge of Strategy. These reinstatements came after a long legal battle. Kenyatta’s loyalists clashed with a rival faction led by EALA MP Kanini Kega and nominated MP Sabina Chege. The rival group had declared themselves party leaders and removed officials aligned with Kenyatta. However, the court ruled that the SNDC convened by Kenyatta’s team was valid and its decisions legitimate.
Registrar Anne Nderitu, who had earlier declined to recognize Kenyatta’s team, issued the gazette notice in line with the court’s consent orders. She invited objections to the updated leadership within seven days. The notice nullified all appointments and changes made by the rival faction. The court’s ruling and the gazette notice now allow the party to submit its updated list of officials to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC). This step is necessary for accessing public funds and participating in elections.
The leadership dispute had caused confusion among members and disrupted Jubilee’s operations at all levels. Political observers believe Kenyatta’s reinstatement brings clarity ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Kioni welcomed the decision and expressed confidence in the party’s renewed focus. He said Jubilee would now strengthen its structures and reconnect with its support base. “This is a victory for democracy and the rule of law. We thank our members for standing firm,” he said. Murathe also called for unity. He noted that the court’s decision and the gazettement had restored faith in the party’s direction.
