Jubilee Suspends Kioni & Murathe, Begins Exit From Azimio

Jubilee Chairman, Nelson Dzuya, announced the dismissal of former Ndaragwa MP, Jeremiah Kioni, as the secretary general on Friday, February 10. 

David Murathe was also suspended as the Vice Chairman. According to Dzuya, Kioni was suspended due to negligence and misconduct. 

Speaking at a Jubilee Party Parliamentary Group meeting in Nakuru, Dzuya announced that East African Legislative Assembly (EALA)  Member of Parliament (MP) Kanini Kega would take over as the acting Secretary General.

Other members suspended from the party include Kagwe Gichohi, the party’s National Treasurer. 

Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni (centre) speaks during a meeting with the party’s grassroots leaders in Kiambu County on February 2, 2023.

Jubilee Party

“The cases of the suspended party officials have been sent to the internal dispute resolution mechanism of the party for further review,” a statement from Jubilee’s Ruto faction read in part.

Through the statement, the faction replaced the suspended members appointing Kitui South MP Rachel Nyamai as the National Treasurer and Eldas Lawmaker Adan Keynan as the National Vice Chairperson. 

Moreover, the Jubilee National Executive Council (NEC) announced that it had commenced a process to exit the Azimio coalition. 

“The National Executive Committee engages with the ruling coalition on the possibility of creating a working cooperation arrangement with it. 

“NEC demands that Jubilee Party is recognised as a Parliamentary Party with all the rights and benefits accruing thereto taking into account that Jubilee Party is the third largest party in Parliament,” a statement from Jubilee Party read in part.

In addition, the Ruto faction appointed additional members to its National Executive Committee (NEC) in what it termed a move to ensure compliance with the two-thirds gender rule. 

“The CEC co-opts Irene Njoki Murembo (Bahati MP), Sabina Chege (nominated MP), Margaret kamar (nominated Senator) and Jerusha Momanyi,” the party added.

The developments came days after the rebel MPs met President William Ruto and his deputy, Rigathi Gachagua, at State House. 

Other than pledging their allegiance to the government and promising to work with Ruto to ensure the nation’s development, the MPs vowed to boycott the protests organized by Azimio Chief Raila Odinga. 

Jubilee Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni and a section of Jubilee Party members at the party headquarters in Nairobi on Monday, March 21, 2022.

Jubilee Party