The court ruled that the Jubilee Party is led by former President Uhuru Kenyatta and as such, allowed Jubilee Vice Chairperson David Murathe to legally hold his position in the party, nullifying a decision by some members to expel him.
The High Court in Nairobi on Monday, September 30 overturned the expulsion of David Murathe and Jeremiah Kioni, a move which sent its members into a celebratory mood.
The court ruled that the Jubilee Party is led by former President Uhuru Kenyatta and as such, allowed Jubilee Vice Chairperson David Murathe to legally hold his position in the party, nullifying a decision by some members to expel him.
In addition, Jeremiah Kioni will continue holding fort as Jubilee party’s Secretary General, thus bringing an end to a protracted power battle within the party.
“Victory as High Court rules that Jubilee Party belongs to Uhuru Kenyatta. Justice Janet Mulwa also nullified the Kanini-Sabina-led NEC that purported to remove Jeremiah Kioni, David Murathe, and Treasurer Kagwe Gichohi,’’ read a statement by the former ruling party.
A section of Jubilee members celebrating at the party’s headquarters on September 30, 2024. /JUBILEE PARTY
A section of the party’s members gathered at the party’s headquarters afterwards and broke into song and dance following the ruling.
However, Justice Mulwa directed the disputing parties to bear the cost of the legal proceedings on their own, meaning that neither Chege’s nor Kioni’s faction will bear the legal costs on their own in entirety.
‘’The appeal No. E630/E635 of 2023 has been allowed in its entirety. Each party has to bear its own costs,’’ the ruling read in part.
Additionally, the judge declined to hold Kanini Kega, Sabina Chege, and Joshua Kutuny in contempt for unlawfully performing the duties of the party without legal backing. The Sabina Chege faction did not immediately comment on the latest developments.
Murathe and Kioni served as the party’s vice chairman and secretary general, respectively, before they were expelled.
Jubilee Party has been facing wrangles after a section of leaders affiliated with the wing led by Sabina Chege (who sought to replace Uhuru Kenyatta) and East Africa Legislative Assembly (EALA) lawmaker Kanini Kega (taking over from Kioni) staged a takeover of the party.
The staged takeover also removed Uhuru from the position of party leader, a decision that led to a protracted political row in the top leadership.
The takeover pitted two sides claiming the leadership of the party structures with two factions emerging to claim the positions.
The wrangles pitting Kioni and Kega began shortly after the 2022 general elections when both factions claimed authority as leaders of the former ruling party.
The party led by Uhuru was in support of Azimio la Umoja party’s Raila Odinga, who lost the election to President William Ruto.
After Ruto’s swearing-in, Kega announced himself as the new Secretary General, suspending Kenyatta’s confidant Kioni and Murathe as well as mobilising a section of party officials, including Sabina Chege, and switching alliance to Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.
Uhuru quickly moved to secure the reigns of the party and re-establish party discipline by expelling the rebels, but Kega’s team has been defying the expulsion.
