Uhuru closer to regaining full control of Jubilee Party after rebels' change of heart

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta is edging closer to taking full control of the Jubilee Party after the outfit's chairman Nelson Dzuya consented to a resolve to make leadership changes.

Mr Dzuya who was initially allied to the EALA MP Kanini Kega-led rebel faction seeking to take over Jubilee from Uhuru, on Thursday agreed to implement the resolution reached upon by a Special National Delegates Convention (SNDC) in May 2023, where the former president was in attendance.

In the new development, Dzuya filed the consent of the SNDC being lawfully held through lawyer Jackson Awele supported by Jubilee's Internal Disputes Resolution Committee's (IDRC) new lawyer, Franklin Mwendani.

During the hearing, the complainant through lawyer Awele argued that the dispute between the party and Dzuya had dissipated, rendering the IDRC functus officio after the defendants objected to the consent.

Awele further noted that the IDRC was not a corporate body as it questioned its capacity to sue or be sued.

"The appellant is a political party funded by public funds. Prudence dictates that the party resources be used for the purpose of properly managing the party and not to waste them on leadership wrangles. It is accordingly in the public interest that this appeal be compromised in the terms proposed in the consent dated, March 10, 2025," said Awele.

In the 2023 SNDC meeting, the party kicked out errant members disloyal to the party and resolved to appoint new members of the Jubilee's National Executive Committee (NEC).

Dzuya and his faction would then successfully counter the move, through the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT), which ruled that the SNDC was not properly convened.

Uhuru's side later appealed the ruling by the Disputes Tribunal arguing that the Jubilee Party leader may convene meetings of any organ of the party at any time and/or without the requirement to issue seven days’ notice.

The Court of Appeal in its judgement in November last year dealt a blow to Jubilee rebels by ruling in favour of the retired president.

The court declined to grant interim stay orders requested by Cherangany MP Joshua Kuttuny, MP Kega, and the Party’s Disciplinary Committee.

The rebel group had sought the orders to counter a September ruling by the Nairobi High Court, which upheld Kenyatta’s leadership of the party. High Court Judge Justice Mulwa had nullified actions taken by the Kanini Kega faction, citing procedural irregularities.

Kenyatta is on the verge of taking full control of the party with new NEC members pending the court's ruling on the appeal slated for May 15, 2025.