Jubilee NDC chaired by Uhuru has no legal consequence – Kanini Kega

East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) legislator Kanini Kega has dismissed the resolutions of the Jubilee party’s National Delegates Convention (NDC) held at Ngong Racecourse in Nairobi on Monday, May 22, as a nullity.

Addressing members of the press on Monday evening, Kega, who claims to be the acting secretary general of Jubilee, said the meeting chaired by retired President Uhuru Kenyatta that saw the MP and several other leaders expelled from the party was “another political rally” and has no legal effect.

Kega maintained the NDC had been suspended by the party’s Internal Disputes Resolution Committee (IDRC).

“The meeting that was held today at Ngong Racecourse was not a Jubilee Party National Delegates Convention. In fact, it was another political rally,” Kega said.

“The Internal Disputes Resolution Committee (IDRC) in its ruling dated May 18, 2023, stayed and suspended the notice issued by his Execelly Uhuru Kenyatta and published in the print media on April 29, 2023, pending the hearing and determination of the dispute challenging the legality of the purported NDC. Therefore the meeting held today is of no legal consequence,” he added.

In the meeting held on Monday morning, the Jubilee party resolved to expel Kega and 10 other members who have joined the Kenya Kwanza coalition.

The party nominated new members to its National Executive Committee (NEC) to replace the rebel members.

Among the nominated members of the new NEC include Beatrice Gabo (deputy party leader strategy), Maoka Maore (deputy party leader operations), David Manje (deputy party leader operations), Kados Muiruri (deputy party leader outreach), Saitoti Torome (chairman) and Yasin Noor (deputy secretary general).

Others are Pauline Njoroge (deputy organizing secretary), Jamleck Kamau (national director of elections), Maison Leshoomo (national women’s league chairperson), Agnes Thumbi (national youth league leader) and Nderitu Mureithi (business council leader).

“We had our last NDC on February 26, 2022. During that NDC, we resolved that we would be members of the Azimio coalition and terminated all forms of cooperation with UDA,” Jubilee Secretary General Jeremia Kioni said.

Nominated Member of Parliament Sabina Chege, who serves as the deputy minority whip in the National Assembly was also removed from the position and replaced with Embakasi West MP Mark Mwenje.

The NDC came two days after the Kega-led faction announced the suspension of Kioni and Jubilee Vice Chairperson David Murathe from the party over gross misconduct and lack of respect for party organs.

In a statement on Friday, Kega indicated that Jubilee National Treasurer Kagwe Gichohi had been suspended for two years following recommendations by the National Disciplinary Committee (TNDC).

“The Committee found that the penalty to expel the member may be too harsh in the circumstances but was also alive to the danger posed to the party for failing to comply with the financial requirements to qualify for disbursement of political parties funds and the compliance was set to be triggered by the charged member,” the former Kieni MP said after the faction’s National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Friday morning.

The trio was suspended in February this year and the matter referred to the Jubilee’s National Disciplinary Committee amid protests from the accused leaders.

The two factions have in recent months locked horns over the party’s leadership with the Kega faction recently kicking out Uhuru as party leader and appointing nominated MP Sabina Chege as his replacement in an acting capacity.