Registrar of Political Parties acknowledges Kioni, Murathe ouster from Jubilee leadership

The scramble for the Jubilee Party has taken a new twist after the Registrar of Political Parties Ann Nderitu received and acted on resolutions of a special National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Friday last week.

Among the documents submitted to her by Jubilee Deputy Secretary General Joshua Kutuny is a notice of the NEC meeting dated February 10, 2023, minutes and resolutions of the meeting as well as a list of 14 out of 21 members who were in attendance.

Resolutions reached at the Nakuru meeting included the suspension of Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni and the appointment of East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) member Kanini Kega as the party’s acting Secretary General.

Vice Chairman David Murathe was also axed and his position handed to Eldas lawmaker Adan Keynan in an acting capacity. National Treasurer Kagwe Gichohi was also ousted and Kitui South MP Rachel Nyamai appointed to take over in the interim.

Though Kioni has questioned the legality of the Friday meeting and dismissed the resolutions as unconstitutional, the Registrar of Political Parties confirmed that the meeting had been legally constituted, in line with the Jubilee constitution.

On the suspension of Kioni, Murathe and Gichohi, the Registrar has asked the appointed officials to keep her office updated on all internal dispute resolution and disciplinary processes.

The party’s disciplinary committee is expected to convene sittings to hear and determine allegations against the three ousted officials.

On Friday, the Jubilee Party NEC members meeting in Nakuru resolved to pull the party out of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya coalition party and process the modalities of establishing a working relationship with the ruling Kenya Kwanza alliance.

The Registrar, in her response letter, asked the Jubilee leadership to observe provisions of the Azimio coalition agreement on the exit of a member party, in strict observance of the roles of respective party organs.