Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu now says she has not been informed about the removal of ex-President Uhuru Kenyatta as Jubilee party leader.
On Tuesday, rival Jubilee faction led by EALA MP Kanini Kega announced the removal of Uhuru as the party boss and subsequently replacing him with nominated MP Sabina Chege.
The surprise announcement marked the culmination of the leadership wrangles that have rocked the once powerful political outfit since after the August 9, 2022, polls.
But in what confirms Uhuru as still the bonafide party boss, Nderitu disclosed that the rival faction that purportedly dislodged him from the party are yet to write to her about the changes.
“There is a dispute which we can all see and those disputes are at the party level. Unless both parties file to us for determination, it is premature for us to talk about it,” Nderitu said.
Consequently, she’s unable to state where the purported removal followed the set procedures as provided for in the party constitution.
“There is nothing that has been filed for us to determine whether they have done the right thing or wrong thing,” she added.
The registrar termed Uhuru’s removal as wrangles that are still at the party level and are yet to be escalated to her office for determination.
“Any discussion or anything is done through the party constitution. And since I have not seen or been informed of anything that they have done, how will I know if they have complied with the constitution?” she posed.
The rival faction, that has been leaning towards President William Ruto, is required to submit relevant document to prove they followed the party constitution in removing Uhuru.
Making the announcement, Kega said the decision was made by the Jubilee National Executive Council during a meeting in Nairobi on Tuesday.
“The office of the party leader is hereby declared vacant and pending the decision of the NDC, Hon Sabina Chege will be the acting party leader of the Jubilee party,” Kega told a press conference in Nairobi.
He was flanked by the Jubilee NEC members led by chairman Nelson Dzuya.
Kega said NEC which ratified Uhuru’s removal, found him guilty of allegedly violating the party constitution and the laws of the land.
This he said was based on Uhuru’s retirement as President and the subsequent law that bars him from holding a party leadership post.
Citing the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act 2013, Kega said Uhuru is legally barred from holding a leadership position in a party six months after handing over power.
“The former party leader ceased to hold office as party leader of Jubilee in March 2023. Therefore, any communication from him cannot bind the party and is of no legal consequence,” Kega said.
But vice chairman David Murathe asked why Kega and his team could not wait for the NDC and see if Uhuru would pick a new party leader.
“How did they know that? even the NDC that we have called was to give the party leader an opportunity to pick his successor.”
Article 7 of the Jubilee constitution stipulates that NEC shall ensure proper order, discipline, and strict adherence to the Party’s constitution, by–laws, and party policies by all officials, members, and all organs of the Party.
Uhuru’s purported removal comes months after the splinter group kicked out three top party officials —Murathe, Jeremiah Kioni and Kagwe Gochohi as vice chairperson, secretary general and national treasurer respectively.
The three were replaced by Eldas MP Adan Keynan, Kega and Kitui South MP Rachel Nyamai respectively.
But the political parties disputes tribal declined to issue orders to effect the changes, stated that the status quo remains.
