Former President Uhuru Kenyatta, on Tuesday, May 2, moved to defend his position as Jubilee Chair hours after being ousted controversially.
In a statement to the press, the faction led by the secretary general, Jeremiah Kioni, revealed that it did not recognise an earlier decision by the Kanini Kega-led faction, to replace the former Head of State with Nominated Member of Parliament Sabina Chege.
The ouster, the statement underlined, did not follow the party’s constitution, and thus, Uhuru remained as Jubilee Party chairman.
“The Party Leader has overall authority over all party officials and organs.
“The Jubilee Party Constitution does not envisage a situation where a rebel group can evict a party leader from his position,” the statement read in part.
On whether Uhuru would accept to be relegated from the party, the statement detailed, “The rebel group's meetings in clandestine locations, the subsequent minutes and resolutions are null and void."
Uhuru and his team revealed that the rebel group that ousted him as Jubilee Party leader did so with the blessings of the government.
“The rebel group is being commandeered from State House with Kenya Kwanza showing a blatant disrespect and disregard to multiparty democracy,” the party lamented.
Jubilee added that the government's interference in its internal affairs indicated that Ruto was not sincere with the bipartisan talks between Kenya Kwanza and Azimio coalitions.
The decision to oust Uhuru was communicated by East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Kanini Kega.
"The National Executive Committee (NEC) has resolved that Sabina will serve as the acting party leader until the time we convene a National Delegates Convention (NDC) where we will select the leader who will run the party moving forward," Kanini Kega stated then.
He added that Uhuru’s earlier call for an NDC meeting on Monday, May 22, was null and void.
"According to the Constitution, a retired president should not be involved in politics six months after leaving office.
“The statement he delegated concerning the meeting convention is null and void based on the Constitution,” Kega remarked.
Uhuru called for an NDC on May 22 to review, formulate and approve Jubilee party policies and receive a status report from the National Executive Committee.
