Jubilee faction leaders appear in court over dispute

Nominated MPs Sabina Chege and Kanini Kega’s faction of the Jubilee party on Monday appeared before the High Court over the Azimio-Jubilee coalition wrangles.

Ms Chege, Kega and 20 politicians of Jubilee appeared before Milimani High Court Judge Chacha Mwita following court summons to shed light on the dispute that has rocked the former ruling party.

The leaders however did not tender their evidence since the court allowed eight new parties to be enjoined in the lawsuit filed by Azimio coalition.

The judge allowed eight new parties: MPs Samuel Arama and Steve Mogaka, Adan Keynan, Rachel Nyamai, Joshua Kuttuny, Fatuma Dullo and Abdulkadir Haji as interested parties into the lawsuit.
Justice Mwita directed all the parties to file written submissions within 14 days and exchange before the hearing of the matter on October 7.

Parliamentary party

The dispute stems from a decision by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula to recognise Jubilee as a Parliamentary party not a member of Azimio coalition.

Raila Odinga-led coalition moved to court last year in June accusing Wetangula of violating the constitution and interfering with internal management of the coalition.

The opposition coalition also blames Wetangula for delaying to implement a decision of removing Chege as Jubilee Party deputy chief whip and replacing her with Embakasi West MP Mark Mwenje.

After yesterday court session the MPs led by Keynan speaking to journalists at the High Court stated they recognize Chege as their party leader and not the former president Uhuru Kenyatta.

He added Jubilee is not a party affiliate to Azimio as it decamped long ago.
“Any one trying to drag us back to Azimio is wasting his time as Jubilee long quit the coalition,” Keynan stated.

In the suit papers, the coalition wants the court to declare Chege’s position and recognition of Jubilee as a party unconstitutional as well as order that the MP to refund public funds spent in running of her alleged office.

“…Declaration that the purported position of the whip of the Jubilee Party as a Parliamentary Party, be declared unconstitutional and be revoked… that the direction of the Speaker of the National Assembly for Sabina Chege be recognized as Jubilee Party whip, be revoked and that the direction for the Clerk of the National Assembly that facilities for Chege is a whip for Jubilee Party be accorded, be revoked,” reads the court documents.