Kioni, Murathe expelled from Jubilee for 'gross misconduct', EALA MP Kanini Kega says

The infighting within the Jubilee Party, which is led by retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, escalated on Friday with a faction of the outfit announcing the expulsion of a section of members allied to the former Head of State.

In a press briefing, the section of Jubilee members led by EALA MP Kanini Kega, declared that Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni alongside Vice Chairman David Murathe have been expunged from the party.

Jubilee National Treasurer Kagwe Gichohi has also been suspended for two years according to Kega.

The move by Kega's faction comes just before Jubilee's National Delegates Conference (NDC), slated for May 22, which was called for by Kenyatta.

According to Kega, Kioni has been expelled from the party on grounds of gross misconduct and for failing to respect the party's organs and carrying out his stipulated duties as Secretary General.

Murathe has been axed for gross misconduct while Gichohi has been suspended for allegedly refusing to carry out the party's instructions and not respecting the party's headquarters.

Factions led by Kega and Kioni have in recent months locked horns over Jubilee's leadership.

In March, the two leaders clashed at the people’s dialogue festival at the Museums of Kenya where disagreements arose over who should address the meeting on behalf of Jubilee in the event organized by the Center for Multiparty Democracy.

In April, the two factions again clashed over leadership, this time at their former party headquarters at Dik Dik Gardens in Kileleshwa.

The chaos, during which stones and other objects were hurled before police stepped in, saw the property’s owner order the party to leave the premises claiming that they had violated the lease terms.