Uhuru storms Jubilee Party offices, blasts Police
Former president Uhuru Kenyatta has given the biggest political hint yet that he is not about to quit politics.
Mr Kenyatta, who is the Jubilee party chairman, visited the political outfit’s headquarters in Nairobi on April 26, 2023, in a bid to stem a fracas that had been witnessed at the secretariat for the better part of the day.
Each of the two groups is claiming ownership of the party.
Upon arrival, Mr Kenyatta was welcomed by secretary-general Jeremiah Kioni, who belongs to one of the groups.
The former head of state then vowed to protect the interests of the party from people he referred to as ‘outsiders’.
He further implored on party members who are not happy and willing to quit even as he lauded Kioni for standing firm amid opposition from within and without.
“Everybody who wants to leave the party is free to leave and join another party…mimi nawashukuru kwa kulinda chama yenu (I thank you for taking care of the party),” Mr Kenyatta said.
Mr Kenyatta emphasized he had no issues with anyone but was just ‘taking care of the party’.
He criticized the deployment of police officers at the party headquarters, saying they should have been assigned something else to do.
“Polisi wako na kazi nyingi, sio kukuja hapa kusumbua watu…alafu uko hapa kujaribu kunyanganya watu chama yao. Unawanyanganya kwa nini. Kila mtu ako na haki yake, na hiyo ndio tunajaribu kuilinda (the police have a lot of work to do, not coming to be a nuisance here…you are here trying to take over the party from them…everyone has the rights, and that is what we’re trying to defend).”
Earlier on, supporters of EALA MP Kanini Kega clashed with those of Kioni in the fight over the party leadership.
Kega, who was appointed by the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) as acting secretary-general and his team were denied access to the party premises as Kioni stayed put.
Political Party Tribunal recently revealed that the party followed the law in suspending Kioni and party vice chairperson David Murathe, but the attempt by the other group to take over was met opposition.
EALA MP, Eldas MP Adan Keynan, and the Nominated MP Sabina Chege are leading the Jubilee Party MPs who are allied with President William Ruto and his government.
They recently met with the President and his deputy Rigathi Gachagua, and agreed to work together.