The Jubilee Party has begun its hotly contested National Delegate Conference (NDC), which has been convened by former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
In videos shared on social media, delegates were seen streaming into the Ngong Racecourse grounds in Nairobi wearing red scarfs and hats emblazoned with the party’s logo.
The former President Uhuru Kenyatta-led group moved its meeting from its initial venue in Bomas of Kenya on Friday after learning that the premise is undergoing renovations that began on May 16 and are expected to last eight weeks.
According to embattled Jubilee Vice Chairman David Murathe, Uhuru will preside over the special NDC.
This comes against the backdrop of a fractious leadership battle in the party, with factions from East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Kanini Kega and former Ndaragwa MP Jeremiah Kioni squabbling over who sits at the party’s helm.
Kioni and MP Kega are battling for control of the party, with Kioni reportedly refusing to relinquish his position as party Secretary-General in order to make way for MP Kega.
On February 9th, the Jubilee Party’s National Executive Council made a change, replacing Kioni with Kega. The changes were approved by the Registrar of Political Parties, but they were overturned by the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal.
Kioni had been suspended, along with the party’s Vice Chairperson David Murathe and National Treasurer Kagwe Gichohi, for their conduct of the political outfit’s affairs.
During a thanksgiving service at Isiolo Boys Secondary School on Sunday, MP Kega stated that there will be no (NDC) meeting and that any assembly held on Monday will be purely political.
“I want to announce as the Secretary General of Jubilee, there is no NDC meeting tomorrow. We will call the meeting at the right time,” said Kega.
Nominated MP Sabina Chege added that Uhuru should avoid political matters and instead focus on his retirement, referring to the NDC meeting.
“There is no meeting tomorrow and that position lapsed 6 months ago and we are in the 8th month. We will call a legitimate meeting from the head office.”
