Jubilee Party National Chairperson Vincent Kemosi has explained his decision to join the party and take up its leadership role, saying he believes it offers the best platform to prepare for the 2027 general election.

Kemosi said he left Ford Kenya before joining Jubilee after becoming dissatisfied with the direction taken by the party following its coalition with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) under the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Speaking during an interview on K24 TV’s Grind and Glory show, Kemosi said the political ideals that guided Ford Kenya and UDA during the 2022 General Election campaign were not reflected after the coalition formed a government.

He said the coalition failed to fully implement the manifesto that the parties had presented to Kenyans before the election.

“Even before I joined Jubilee, I had already left Ford Kenya, the party that I joined about 10 years before, simply because the ideals of Ford Kenya and UDA when they came together to form a coalition under Kenya Kwanza are not the same ideals that we spelt out to the people during the General Election of 2022,” Kemosi said.

“The manifesto that we came up with, which Ford Kenya was part of, we did not really honour or try to apply. For that reason, my stay in Ford Kenya was not tenable,” he added.

Why Jubilee Party?

The Jubilee Party chairman said he was attracted to the party because of its national character, vision and previous record in government.

Kemosi argued that Jubilee has a wider national reach compared to Ford Kenya, which he described as a regional party largely associated with Western Kenya.

“When I looked at the ideals, the vision and mission of Jubilee, I really found that it is a party that I can join and also work with colleagues and people to build a party and be in readiness to form the next government,” he said.

He praised the Jubilee administration, which served between 2013 and 2022, saying the government delivered notable projects in areas such as infrastructure, education and the economy.

According to Kemosi, the party’s past performance is one of the reasons it can attract supporters as it positions itself ahead of the 2027 elections.

“When we had the Jubilee government in power, we can see much of what Jubilee did in terms of development, economy and education. You can pick quite a number of things that Jubilee did against what UDA is doing under Kenya Kwanza,” he said.

He added that Jubilee remains a national party capable of bringing together leaders from different regions.

“Jubilee is a party to watch. Jubilee is a national party whose mission and vision align with the aspirations of Kenyans,” Kemosi said.

Role in Jubilee’s 2027 strategy

Kemosi described his appointment as national chairperson as both an honour and a recognition of his political experience.

He said the decision by the fourth President, Uhuru Kenyatta, to approve his nomination showed confidence in his ability to lead the party.

“The appointment is an honour because His Excellency the retired President agreed to my position, which means he has been able to see my capacity and what I can do as a person,” he said.

Kemosi said he was not new to party leadership, having previously served in Ford Kenya’s National Executive Council and as the party’s secretary in charge of agriculture matters.

He also highlighted his role in the formation of UDA, saying he was involved in drafting and reviewing the party’s constitution after its establishment.

Kemosi said he became part of efforts to build UDA after the Msambweni by-election, when leaders allied to then Deputy President William Ruto sought a new political vehicle.

He said he advised that forming a new party would provide a stronger political platform.

“Immediately, in a week’s time, he formed the UDA Party. Upon formation, as a lawyer, I was appointed to be part of the people who drafted the UDA Constitution. Subsequently, I reviewed that Constitution,” he said.

Kemosi’s role in Ruto’s 2022 campaign

The Jubilee chairman also spoke about his involvement in William Ruto’s presidential campaign, where he served as the regional coordinator in charge of Nyanza.

He said mobilising support for UDA in Nyanza was challenging because the region was considered hostile territory for the party at the time.

“I have served, and I have already delivered victory in terms of delivering William Ruto to be president. It was not an easy thing,” Kemosi said.

He credited himself and other leaders for building support for UDA in the region, saying their efforts contributed to the party’s eventual victory in the 2022 presidential election.

“Coming from the Nyanza region, which was very hostile by then, other leaders and I carried UDA as our baby and took it to a hostile ground where it was not required. But we persuaded the people,” he said.

With the 2027 General Election approaching, Kemosi said his focus would be on strengthening Jubilee Party and positioning it as a major political force in Kenya’s next electoral contest.