Jeremiah Kioni Sued at Supreme Court for Defending Raila

Jubilee Party Seretary General Jeremiah Kioni (centre) speaks during a meeting with the party's grasroots leaders in Kiambu County on February 2, 2023.
Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni (centre) speaks during a meeting with the party's grassroots leaders in Kiambu County on February 2, 2023.
Jubilee Party

A lobby group known as Uzalendo Institute of Leadership and Democracy on Friday, March 10, sued Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni at the Supreme Court. 

In the court papers, Uzalendo Institute of Leadership and Democracy argued that the Jubilee Party leader had acted contrary to the law on a number of occasions. 

Through Lawyer Denis Sang, the lobby group claimed that Kioni had been misrepresenting facts about the outcome of the Presidential election held in August 2022.

The team further claimed that through his utterances, the Jubilee SG had disregarded the Supreme Court ruling that upheld the election of President William Ruto in September 2022. The Head of State defeated his closest challenger Raila Odinga in the August 2022 General Election. 

Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni meeting with asoirants in Taita Taveta on Saturday April 16, 2022
Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni meeting with aspirants in Taita Taveta on Saturday, April 16, 2022
Jubilee Party

A Supreme Court Cause List obtained by Kenyans.co.ke showed that the case was scheduled for mention on Friday, March 17, 2023.

The Judiciary confirmed the matter and explained that March 17, 2023 exercise was meant to verify that all documents were ready.

"The Court will thereafter issue a ruling once compliance is done and a bench constituted to hear the matter," the Judiciary statement clarified. 

The lobby group argued that Kioni had abrogated his responsibility to ensure that his followers were fed up with correct and accurate information. 

"It is the duty of the court not to condone deliberate disobedience of its orders nor waiver from its responsibility to deal decisively and firmly with contemnors," the lobby group urged the court. 

Lawyer Sang, who represented Uzalendo Institute of Leadership and Democracy, asked the Supreme Court to stamp its authority and send a warning to anyone making declarations that were contrary to the ruling. 

"The court does not, and ought not be seen to make orders in vain; otherwise the court would be exposed to ridicule, and no agency of the constitutional order would then be left in place to serve as a guarantee for the legality, and for the rights of all people," Sang argued in a petition to Supreme Court. 

Meanwhile, Jubilee Party Internal Dispute Resolution Committee on Friday, March 10, suspended the National Delegates Convention which a faction allied to Kioni had called for the NDC in order to make sweeping changes to the party leadership.

"The agenda of the NDC shall be to receive and welcome the elected leaders from the concluded General Election,” the public notice reads in part.

The Jubilee Party was expected to carry out internal elections in order to elect eligible members of the party to fill in vacant positions.

Lawyer Fred Ngatia representing William Ruto at the Supreme court petition on September 1, 2022
Lawyer Fred Ngatia representing William Ruto as the first respondent the Supreme court petition on September 1, 2022
Judiciary