Uhuru Changes Jubilee NDC Venue Amid Suspension

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta at an event on March 3, 2023.
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Office of the 4th President of Kenya

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday, May 20 moved the upcoming Jubilee Party National Delegates Conference (NDC) from the Bomas of Kenya to Ngong Racecourse.

In a notice published by the party, Uhuru maintained that the meeting would go on as planned with the agenda remaining the same.

Uhuru signed off the notice even as he called on the delegates to attend the meeting slated for Monday, May 22.

"Notice is hereby given that the venue of the Jubilee NDC has been moved to Ngong Racecourse, Nairobi. All other details remain as per the notice published on April 29, 2023," read the notice in part.

A photo of the national tallying centre at Bomas of Kenya during the August 9 General Elections
A photo of the national tallying centre at Bomas of Kenya during the August 9, 2022 General Elections
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IEBC

According to the notice that was published in April, Uhuru indicated that the delegates would formulate and approve party policies, consider a status report from the Nation Executive Council (NEC) and approve other matters discussed.

Uhuru moved to change the NDC's venue after they were denied the opportunity to hold the meeting at Bomas which is set to undergo renovations.

“The closure for repairs was pre-planned and was not for political reasons. There will be no events for eight weeks,” an insider at the venue revealed to Kenyans.co.ke.

However, despite changing the venue, the party's Internal Dispute Resolution Committee (IDRC) maintained that the meeting called for by Uhuru would remain suspended until the dispute over the matter is determined.

"If the SNDC is allowed to proceed as scheduled the Dispute will be rendered nugatory: it is therefore in the nearest of justice that the substratum of the dispute is preserved pending its hearing and determination.

"The notice issued by the Respondent to convene a Special Nacional Delegates Convention (SNDC) and published in the print media on 29th April 2023 by stayed and suspended pending the hearing and resolution of the dispute," directed the committee.

Despite the ruling of the Committee, the faction led by Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni also maintained that the meeting would go on as planned.

He accused the faction led by East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) lawmaker Kanini Kega of disrespecting Uhuru.

“Can you imagine people coming together and calling the former President into a disciplinary committee?" he wondered.

It is expected that the Uhuru NDC will ratify the suspension of the leaders who decamped to Kenya Kwanza.

Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni at the party headquarters on May 4, 2023.
Former Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni at the party headquarters on May 4, 2023.
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Jubilee Party