Kioni cautions United Opposition to learn from Azimio mess before 2022 polls
By Kenneth Mwenda, November 11, 2025Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni has cautioned the united Opposition to learn from mistakes made by the Azimio la Umoja coalition before the 2022 elections.
Kioni spoke during a night discussion on a local TV station on Tuesday, November 11, 2025.
Addressing party strategy and opposition politics, Kioni stressed the need for Jubilee to build strong structures across the country.
“Viongozi wa upinzani, sio lazima tuwe pamoja sisi wote. Na sio lazima mtu akikufa lazima sisi wote twende kwa mazishi hiyo,” he said.
“Mtu anaenda kivyake, na ni vizuri tujue ya kwamba kuna watu leo nimepata habari kutoka Nyanza. Watu wengine wakicomplain na walikuja kwa chama. Wanasema ‘kwa nini nyinyi mnafanya siasa ni kama sisi watu wa Nyanza hatuko katika Opposition?’ Sisi viongozi wa Opposition tuko na jukumu ya kuhakikisha tumeenda Kenya yote.”
Kioni added that winning the presidency requires national reach.
“Jambo la kwanza, lazima ujenge chama chako. If you want to deliver the presidency, you’ll not deliver the presidency from Nyandarua alone. You must deliver the presidency from 47 counties.”
“Lazima chama chako kiwe na nguvu to deliver the Presidency from every corner of this country. You need a proper structure. And you need to have infrastructure and arrangements that will make it possible for you.”
He drew lessons from Jubilee’s participation in the Azimio coalition during the 2022 elections.
“Tulifanya hayo na Azimio 2022. Na sisi kama Jubilee hayo ndio tulikuwa tunaongelea na party leader wetu. 2022 tuliingia Azimio. Tulitengeneza Azimio April 2022, na Uchaguzi ulikuwa August 2022. A few months ndio tulikuwa nayo ya kufanya campaign, kutembea Kenya mzima, na kuahakikisha ya kwamba we are delivering Raila as a president,” he added.
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“Sisi wote tumefuatana, Martha, Raila na kila mtu tunaenda kampeni, tunarudi nyumbani, tunakuta hatuna agents. Hatuna mpangilio. We do not want to get in that kind of a mess. Na kwa sababu sisi katika Jubilee tuliyaona, that is what we are preparing now.”
Opposition ties
On engagement with opposition strongholds, Kioni acknowledged the role of united opposition leaders, including Martha Karua and Gachagua, in supporting his region. He, however, emphasised that Jubilee’s flag bearer, Fred Matiang’i, is the main point of contact.
“Nangojea kuambiwa na Fred Matiang’i yale wamezungumza kule. Yale nataka kukuambia leo, ni yale tunaongea kama Jubilee. Na wakati wote unaponiona, mimi niulize mambo ya Jubilee. Kwa sababu tuko na mwenye ataongea mambo ya United Opposition, na ni Fred Matiang’i,” he said.