‘Uhuru funded your campaign, nominated you to EALA': Kioni fires back at Kanini Kega in Jubilee war

Former Ndaragwa Member of Parliament Jeremiah Kioni has slammed his East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) counterpart Kanini Kega over a declaration expelling him from the Jubilee Party.

Kioni and Kega are presently embroiled in a fierce battle over leadership of the Jubilee Party, with each claiming to be the political outfit’s legitimate Secretary General.

Addressing the press on Friday moments after reports of his ouster alongside Vice Chairman David Murathe and the party’s National Treasurer Kagwe Gichohi, Kioni brushed aside Kega’s sentiments accusing him of betraying his party leader, former President Uhuru Kenyatta.

Kioni seemingly sneered at Kega claiming that Uhuru funded his (Kega’s) 2022 political campaign and nominated him to EALA, but that he has instead now turned his back on the former Head of State and is ungratefully mocking him over the party’s leadership.

“Can you imagine people putting themselves together and calling the former President into a disciplinary committee? The person who nominated you to EALA, to Parliament, who even funded your campaigns when you are running for an MP,” Kioni said.

The ex-Ndaragwa MP likewise told off the Jubilee faction led by Kega against unconstitutionally decamping from the party without public consultation.

He challenged any elected MPs seeking to join the President William Ruto-led Kenya Kwanza to instead go back to the people and seek election on other party tickets.

“If you wish to move away from your party, not just Jubilee even ODM, Wiper and the rest, and you think it is greener within Kenya Kwanza, go back to the people and have a by-election done; don’t be the con of the people we have seen,” he said.

Kega on Friday announced the expulsion of Kioni and Murathe over what he termed as gross misconduct, failure to respect the party organs as well as refusal to undertake party duties.

He consequently dismissed the planned National Delegates Congress (NDC) meeting as announced by Uhuru on Monday saying any decisions arrived at will not be legally binding.