Inside Politics

Kanini Kega-led faction expels Kioni, Murathe from Jubilee party as wrangles escalate

Friday, May 19th, 2023 14:55 | By
Acting Jubilee Secretary-General Kanini Kega (left) and nominated MP Sabina Chege at a past press conference. PHOTO/Courtesy
Acting Jubilee Secretary-General Kanini Kega (left) and nominated MP Sabina Chege at a past press conference. PHOTO/Courtesy

Jubilee Party Vice Chairperson David Murathe and Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni have been expelled from the former President Uhuru Kenyatta-led outfit, a rival faction announced on Friday, May 19, 2023.

Addressing the media on Friday morning, the faction led by acting Secretary-General Kanini Kega announced that Murathe and Kioni's names had been expunged from the party register over gross misconduct and lack of respect for Jubilee organs.

Kega, who doubles up as a member of the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA), also indicated that Jubilee National Treasurer Kagwe Gichohi had been suspended for two years following recommendations by the National Disciplinary Committee (TNDC).

“The Committee found that the penalty to expel the member may be too harsh in the circumstances but was also alive to the danger posed to the party for failing to comply with the financial requirements to qualify for disbursement of political parties funds and the compliance was set to be triggered by the charged member,” Kega said after the faction's National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Friday morning.

The trio was suspended in February this year and the matter referred to the Jubilee's National Disciplinary Committee amid protests from the accused leaders.

"The TNDC concluded its hearing of the said disciplinary matters this week and forwarded its decisions to the NEC in accordance with Article 14.1.12 of our Party Constitution which provides that; 'the National Disciplinary Committee shall report its findings and decisions to the National Executive Committee for adoption, ratification, variation or substitution in accordance with Article 14.4.1'" Kega stated.

“The NEC has adopted the TNDC findings and the same have been communicated to the affected parties. We have accordingly resolved to adopt the findings of the TNDC,” he added.

At the same time, Kega maintained that the National Delegates Conference convened by Uhuru and set for Monday, May 22, 2023, remains suspended following a report by the party’s Internal Disputes Resolution Committee (IDRC).

“The NEC has also received a report of the Internal Disputes Resolution Committee (IDRC) forwarding their ruling staying the special National Delegates Convention (SNDC) that had been convened for May 22, 2023, by Uhuru Kenyatta.”

The two factions have in recent months locked horns over the party's leadership with the Kega faction recently kicking out Uhuru as party leader and appointing nominated MP Sabina Chege as his replacement in acting capacity.

Uhuru storms Jubilee headquarters

In April, Uhuru was forced to visit Jubilee Party headquarters in Kileleshwa after a fight erupted between the Kioni and Kega factions, forcing police to intervene.

Speaking at the party offices, Uhuru said Kioni remains the party's bonafide secretary general.

"I was called by the SG (Kioni) and he informed me of what's happening. I said I have to come to stand in solidarity with him and party members to protect our party," Uhuru stated.

The former head of state noted that Jubilee members would solve their problems without interference from the state and the police.

"We have our mechanism as a political party to solve our problems and we shall solve them. We shall call our meetings and the members of the party will decide the future of the party," Uhuru said.

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