Former President Uhuru Kenyatta's decision to move the upcoming Jubilee Party National Delegates Conference (NDC) from the Bomas of Kenya to Ngong Racecourse was hailed as a strategy to avoid State interference in the party's activities.
Ngong racecourse is a private facility where only club members approve admission, hence forestalling any attempts by the state to stop the meeting through the police.
Further, the former president resorted to picking the venue after the party was blocked from accessing the Bomas of Kenya and Kasarani's indoor public gymnasium.
The Uhuru Kenyatta-led faction led by embattled Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni was involved in a day-long meeting on Saturday, May 20, to deliberate and plan for the NDC slated for Monday, May 22.
In addition, Kioni and Jubilee vice-chairperson David Murathe threatened to petition the Law Society of Kenya (LSK) to take action against the members who sat at the party's internal disputes committees.
This is despite claims that four LSK members were accused of having been ejected from the party at a sitting chaired by Uhuru.
In an attempt to block Uhuru's NDC, nominated MP Hassan Osman had moved to the political parties Disputes Tribunal seeking the meeting to be declared unlawful.
The Tribunal, however, in a ruling delivered on Friday, May 19, declined to block the move - signalling that the meeting was set to proceed.
According to Uhuru, the meeting would deliberate and approve party policies, consider a status report from the Nation Executive Council (NEC) and approve other matters discussed.
"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.
The Jubilee faction led by East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Kanini Kega expelled Kioni and Murathe from the party, citing gross misconduct and failure to respect the party's organs.
"The charged members by assuming duties which are clear and express provision vested upon other organs and officials of the party.
"He failed and neglected to carry his duties as directed by the party," Kega stated on Friday, May 19.
Murathe had earlier accused President William Ruto of being behind the wrangles rocking the former ruling Party. According to the Vice Chair and an ally of Uhuru, Ruto was bitter because he was ejected from the party.
"Don't be deceived. This war is not about Kioni and Kega. There is someone behind this because he is bitter that we kicked him out of the Jubilee party and he wants to take revenge since he is now in power. This is childish," a visibly angry Murathe retorted.
