UPDATE 11:30 a.m: A statement sent to newsrooms by State House Spokesperson Kanze Dena shed more light on the Jubilee Parliamentary Group (PG) meeting at the KICC on Monday, June 22.
The meeting was attended by 174 legislators. Uhuru stated that the coalition, through the new Majority Leader Amos Kimunya and the Majority Whip Emmanuel Wangwe, would communicate the changes to the Speaker of the National Assembly by Thursday, June 25.
He also urged the legislators to focus on the coalition's development agenda and shun divisive politics.
Aden Duale was on Monday, June 22, ousted as Majority Leader in the National Assembly following a Jubilee Parliamentary Group (PG) meeting at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre.
At the meeting led by President Uhuru Kenyatta, it was resolved that Duale would be replaced by Kipipiri MP Amos Kimunya.
Eldas MP Adan Keynan was also designated to take over as the Secretary to the Jubilee Coalition Parliamentary Group, a position previously occupied by Kimunya.
President Uhuru Kenyatta attended the meeting in person despite initial communication indicating that he would address the lawmakers via video link from State House, Nairobi.
Deputy President William Ruto was also present at the KICC despite his allies in the Senate and National Assembly being targeted for removal in the relentless Jubilee purge.
The meeting which began shortly after 9 a.m. lasted less than one hour, with lawmakers who attended quickly agreeing to the proposed changes.
According to sources at the meeting who spoke to Kenyans.co.ke, opening prayers were said after which Jubilee Party Secretary-General Raphael Tuju invited President Uhuru Kenyatta to speak.
Uhuru spoke on the proposed changes and their importance to his administration, legacy and agenda before closing the meeting.
Participants in the meeting were barred from entering the room with their mobile phones.
The installment of Keynan as Kimunya's replacement was seen in some quarters as a move to appease pastoralist communities from Northern Kenya following Duale's removal.
Kimunya spoke to reporters outside KICC after the meeting, thanking Duale for his service as Majority Leader since 2013.
"I really want to thank Uhuru for proposing me to take over as the leader of the majority party in parliament.
"It's humbling the confidence he's shown as we work on these last two years (of Uhuru's term). I also want to congratulate Adan Keynan, he's taking over a position I got only two weeks ago. I did half the notes, he will do the other half.
"I don't take this appointment lightly. It's an honour to me," he stated while promising to issue a formal statement.
Duale told journalists he would be sending a statement to newsrooms later in the day with his reaction to the developments in the leadership of the ruling party.
Watch part of Kimunya's speech after the meeting below:
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