Uhuru's woes deepen as Jubilee party mediation talks hit a snag

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta appears to be on the receiving end from all directions, ranging from personal attacks, threats to deny him perks and attempts to emasculate his position as Jubilee party leader.

His intention to  install Fred Matiang’i as his deputy in the leadership of the party now remains a wish after the mediation process ordered to unblock the stalemate hit a snag yesterday.

The mediation talks, which had been sanctioned by the Registrar of Political Parties John Lorionokou following an objection to change the party officials, failed to yield fruits.

The objection had been made by former Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu. In dismissing the talks, Wambugu accused the conveners of failure to provide ‘certain clarifications’ that he needed from the party.

In a letter to the Registrar of Political Parties, Wambugu further said two of the participants of yesterday’s mediation attended in their capacities as the officials of the party, while he had protested their legality and constitutional validity.

“Mr Dan Mwangi attended and participated in the capacity of executive director despite that being one of the appointments whose legality and constitutional validity I have expressly challenged in my correspondence to both the party and the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties. Similarly, Paul Kados participated in the capacity of chairman of the MCA caucus, which is likewise among the appointments and leadership changes presently under dispute,” Wambugu argued.

The new developments emerged barely two days after Nandi Senator Samson Cherarkey threatened to file a Motion for Parliament to revoke, reallocate or vary the budget relating to the benefits of the former President.

Wambugu said he remained dissatisfied with both the substance of the response and the extent to which it addressed the core constitutional legal and procedural concerns raised in his objection.

“The response did not adequately resolve the fundamental issues relating to lawful authority, constitutional compliance, procedural validity and the legitimacy of the disputed party structures and appointments,” he said.

The Jubilee leadership row resumes barely a year after the High Court handed Uhuru full control of the party on June last year following efforts by nominated MP Sabina Chege and East African Legislative Assembly MP Kanini Kega to remove him as party leader. Pundits think the end game is to drag Uhuru and his party into court battles as he heads towards the 2027 elections to ensure that Jubilee does not field candidates in all electoral positions.

Yesterday, Jubilee party members said there was a central concern during the meeting over continued lack of clarity regarding the institutional authority and constitutional basis of the team that was engaged  on behalf of the party.

“Despite several questions from myself on this issue, at no point was there clear identification of the specific organ of the party that the meeting represented, nor was there clarity on the constitutional or procedural basis upon which that team was constituted or mandated to engage on matters involving disputed party leadership and governance structures,” Wambugu said.

He urged the Registrar Political Parties to continue exercising regulatory restraint over the leadership changes pending clear, verifiable and constitutionally grounded demonstration that the disputed changes were undertaken lawfully, procedurally and in full compliance with the Jubilee Party Constitution and the Political Parties Act.

Yesterday’s meeting was presided over by deputy party leader in charge of outreach Joseph Manje who summoned Wambugu to the party headquarters to resolve the dispute and to remove a caveat that hinders Matiang’i and other officials from taking over their positions of the party.

Matiang’i was appointed the Deputy Party Leader on October 30 last year and was also unveiled as the party’s presidential candidate ahead of next year’s polls, a move that a section of the party aspirants objected maintaining that the party should not lock out other interested presidential aspirants.

In Januaryr, former Narok North MP Moitalel Ole Kenta was appointed the party’s secretary general,  replacing Jeremiah Kioni who was in turn appointed one of the four deputy party leaders.

Other party officials who were appointed alongside Kioni include former West Mugirango MP Vincent Kemosi (national chairperson), businessman Yassin Noor (organizing secretary) Former Murang’a senator Kembi Gitura (director of elections) and Zack Kinuthia (deputy secretary general).

Wambugu wrote to the registrar on April 17 objecting Uhuru’s decision to effect new party leadership, accusing him of lack of accountability, transparency and clarity in the governance and decision-making structures of the party.

“Through multiple formal letters, I have raised serious concerns regarding uncertainty as to the lawful identity, recognition and constitutional validity of current party officials and institutions, including the composition of the National Executive Committee (NEC) and other party organs,” Wambugu told the registrar.