Former Ndaragua Member of Parliament Jeremiah Kioni and the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Member of Parliament Kanini Kega on Wednesday, April 19, staged a political spin that left members of the public with more questions than answers.
According to Kega's wing of the Jubilee Party, Kioni had suffered a major setback after his appeal flopped at the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal.
In a late evening Press Conference, Kega claimed that Political Parties Dispute Tribunal ruled that he was the substantive acting Secretary-General for the Jubilee Party after Kioni was suspended.
"In a unanimous decision, the PPDT granted our prayers and dismissed a letter from the ORPP dated February 13 that attempted to recognise a purported NEC meeting held somewhere in Rift Valley as a proper Jubilee Party NEC meeting.
Kega's wing, in its presser, had claimed that the tribunal approved Kega as the rightfully elected acting secretary-general after being endorsed by the National Executive Committee (NEC).
The group also stated that the tribunal also acknowledged that Kioni was duly kicked out of his position as the Secretary-General of the Jubilee Party.
While confirming the ruling, Jubilee Party Chairman Nelson Dzuya stated that in light of the changes, Kioni remained suspended forthwith.
"The previous conservatory order was vacated by the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal, and in that regard, the National Management Committee held a meeting and agreed to implement resolutions," he stated.
Dzuya, therefore, asked Kioni and other suspended officials to prepare for an internal party disciplinary mechanism that they will have to undergo before they could know their fate as members of the former ruling party.
"The internal dispute committee and the national dispute committee will immediately commence the hearing of the cases leveled against the suspended officials in order to make a determination," the Jubilee Party Chairman stated.
On his part, Kega expressed his gratitude for his election as the acting Secretary General and promised to ensure that the party was up and running.
Kega also blamed Kioni for making premature announcements on behalf of the Jubilee Party noting that he will start correcting his errors.
"We have held a Group Parliamentary Meeting and agreed that we will work together in order to fight for our members.
"We will also resist the mistreatment of our members by the Azimio la Umoja Coalition," Kega stated during a press conference.
On February 16, 2023, the Kioni was handed a temporary lifeline after the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal (PPDT) set aside a resolution of the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) suspending him, alongside two other senior party officials.
A team of interim officials led by Kanini Kega and Eldas Member of Parliament Adan Keynan took charge at their old headquarters and unceremoniously kicked out Kioni.
Kioni was suspended alongside Vice Chairperson David Murathe, as well as National Treasurer Kagwe Gichohi over their conduct in regards to the political outfit's affairs.
