Senior Counsel and Safina leader Paul Muite is now set to hand over the party’s leadership to politician and businessman Jimmy Wanjigi.

With the party’s National Delegates Conference (NDC) currently ongoing at Ngong Racecourse on Thursday, September 18, 2025, the party, through a statement shared on their social media pages, has revealed this development.

Muite, who has held the party’s leadership for the past 30 years, is now set to hand over the mantle to Jimmy Wanjigi and his 2022 running mate and lawyer, Willis Otieno.

The party has described such a huge day as a defining one, describing Muite, who founded the political vehicle in 1995, as a torchbearer who will be relieving the young Turks of the party’s duties.

“Safina Party marks a defining moment in its history as Senior Counsel Hon. Paul Muite, the Party’s Founder and long-standing torchbearer, formally hands over the mantle of leadership to Hon. Jimi Wanjigi at the Safina National Special Delegates Conference (NDC), scheduled for (TODAY) Thursday, 18th September 2025, at 10:00 am at the Ngong Racecourse, Waterfront.” The statement read,

Safina party’s profile

Though less prominent in recent years and remaining inactive for the recent years, 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.

Wanjigi joining Safina

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 Muite.

This came as Safina was preparing for its National Delegates Congress, an event that saw Wanjigi invite the now President William Ruto, who attended alongside allies including Musalia Mudavadi.

Their presence fuelled speculation of a possible coalition, with many suggesting that Wanjigi would eventually back Ruto. Both sides denied these claims, insisting decisions would be made later. Although Muite and Wanjigi were seen embracing at the meeting, their alliance soon collapsed.