Senior counsel Paul Muite was clad in a Gen Z-like style as he handed over Safina party leadership to presidential hopeful Jimmy Wanjigi.

The handing-over ceremony was held at Ngong Racecourse during the party’s NDC on Thursday, September 18, 2025. Muite handed over the party’s constitution and the members’ registry, and then later a staff akin to the one used by Moses while leading the Israelites out of Egypt to symbolise the change of leadership and continuity of the party under Wanjigi.

With the party looking into tapping on the input of the young people, Muite, who had been in control of the party for the past 35 years, had his cap tilted to the side, giving a Gen Z vibe, with him symbolising that for the party to move forward, it needs much younger energy.

The now deputy party leader Willis Otieno, during the event, stated that the next revolution will be achieved by the Safina party together with the young people.

The Safina Party, meaning “Ark” in Swahili, is a Kenyan political party founded in May 1995 by paleoanthropologist Richard Leakey and lawyer Paul Muite, symbolising a vessel for national unity and reform.

Wanjigi’s presidential quest

Although less prominent in recent years and remaining inactive, the party’s silence was broken in the run-up to the 2022 general election after presidential aspirant Jimi Wanjigi was chased out of ODM and joined the party.

This followed his demand that former Prime Minister Raila Odinga shelve his presidential bid and support him instead, arguing that he had supported Raila twice before and expected support in return. The fallout turned dramatic when angry ODM supporters confronted him at the party’s headquarters, forcing police to intervene and save him.

Hours later, Wanjigi addressed the press at a Nairobi hotel, lamenting what he described as betrayal by a party he had long supported. Days later, he announced his presidential bid on the Safina ticket, which was welcomed by then-party leader Paul Muite.