NAIROBI, Kenya — Jubilee Party Deputy Leader Jeremiah Kioni has offered himself to succeed former President Uhuru Kenyatta as the party’s leader following a High Court ruling requiring retired presidents to relinquish formal political party leadership positions.
Kioni made the announcement on Tuesday, September 15, shortly after Kenyatta said he was ready to hand over the Jubilee leadership following the judgment delivered by High Court Judge Lawrence Mugambi.
In a statement, Kioni said he would seek the position through Jubilee’s established constitutional processes, insisting that the party’s leadership should be determined democratically.
Kioni Declares Interest in Jubilee Leadership
“I hereby offer myself for the position of Party Leader of the great Jubilee Party, in accordance with the party’s constitution, processes and procedures,” Kioni said.
He argued that Jubilee, as a national party and former ruling party, should not have its leader installed through an informal succession arrangement.
“Jubilee is a national party and a former ruling party. As such, our leaders are not installed, they are elected by the party delegates at the National Delegates Convention (NDC),” he said.
Kioni said the tradition of electing party leaders through delegates had defined Jubilee since its formation and should guide the current transition.
Uhuru Clears Way for Leadership Handover
Kioni’s declaration came after Kenyatta confirmed his willingness to relinquish his formal leadership role in Jubilee.
In a statement issued through his office, Kenyatta said he had taken note of the High Court ruling upholding Section 6 of the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act, which restricts retired presidents from holding political party office beyond six months after leaving the presidency.
Kenyatta said the ruling was not a restriction on his political life but a reaffirmation of Kenya’s democratic maturity.
“The fourth President of the Republic of Kenya acknowledges that leadership is not the chair one occupies; it is the trust one cultivates,” his office said.
He also said the long-delayed handover of the Jubilee chairmanship had been affected by an internal dispute that required legal clarification.
“With the court’s guidance, that path is now clear,” his office said.
Kioni Praises Uhuru’s Leadership
The Jubilee deputy leader thanked Kenyatta for his leadership of the party and the country.
Kioni said Kenyatta’s contribution to building Jubilee into a major political movement could not be overstated.
“I take this opportunity to thank H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta for his leadership of our party and, before that, of our nation,” he said.
He added that he expected the former president to continue offering guidance during the transition.
Kioni said he would now engage Jubilee members and delegates across the country as the party prepares for what he described as its next chapter.
Party Leader to Be Chosen Through NDC
Kioni’s statement signals that he is not claiming automatic succession to the Jubilee leadership despite serving as deputy party leader.
Instead, he said the final decision should be made through the party’s National Delegates Convention.
The position is significant because the High Court ruling does not name or install a replacement for Kenyatta. It addresses the legality of retired presidents continuing to hold formal party offices, leaving Jubilee’s internal structures to determine its next leadership.
The ruling also does not bar Kenyatta from belonging to a political party or participating in political activities. The restriction concerns his continued occupation of a formal party leadership position.
Jubilee Heads Into Leadership Contest
Kioni’s declaration sets the stage for a potentially significant leadership contest within Jubilee as the party prepares for the 2027 General Election.
The former ruling party has been reorganising its leadership and political structures ahead of the election, with former Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i emerging as its presidential candidate.
Kioni has previously backed Matiang’i’s presidential bid, while his own declaration now places him among the senior Jubilee figures seeking to shape the party’s next phase.
The party’s transition also comes amid internal leadership disputes, including a recent Political Parties Disputes Tribunal decision concerning the appointment of Moitalel Ole Kenta as Jubilee secretary-general.
Kioni Appeals for Unity
Kioni said he looked forward to engaging members and delegates across the country as the party determines its future leadership.
He thanked Kenyatta for his contribution and said the transition should preserve Jubilee’s democratic traditions.
The next step will be for Jubilee to activate the constitutional process for selecting a new party leader, with Kioni now formally positioning himself as a contender.
“Jubilee is a national party and a former ruling party,” Kioni said, ending his statement with the party’s rallying call: #MbelePamoja.
