NAIROBI, Kenya — Former Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu has moved to the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) seeking urgent orders to stop recently approved leadership changes within the Jubilee Party, escalating an internal power struggle ahead of expected political realignments.
In documents filed before the tribunal, Wambugu challenges the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties’ (ORPP) decision to approve and gazette a new list of Jubilee officials.
The changes include the entry of former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, alongside Jeremiah Kioni, Vincent Mogaka Kemosi, Moitalel Ole Kenta, Zack Kinuthia, and Yasir Noor, into key party positions.
Wambugu argues that the Registrar approved the changes despite an unresolved objection he had already lodged against the proposed restructuring.
According to the filings, the former legislator says Jubilee officials invited him to a meeting on May 7 to discuss concerns he had raised regarding the changes. He claims he was presented with documents during the meeting and assured that no final action would be taken before consultations were concluded.
He says he requested additional time to review the documents and believed the matter was still under discussion.
He now accuses Jubilee officials of allegedly misleading the Registrar by indicating that the dispute had been resolved, despite his objection remaining active.
In the application, Wambugu further argues that the Registrar failed to independently confirm whether he had withdrawn his objections before effecting the changes.
“The newly gazetted officials may immediately assume office and begin making decisions on behalf of the party before the dispute is heard and determined,” the application states.
He warns that allowing the officials to continue operating in office could fundamentally alter the party’s leadership structure and render the tribunal proceedings meaningless.
The dispute adds another layer to ongoing tensions within Jubilee Party as the former ruling party attempts to reorganize itself amid shifting alliances in the country’s political landscape.
Jubilee, once led by former President Uhuru Kenyatta, has recently experienced internal divisions over its future direction, especially following increased cooperation between sections of the opposition and President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration.
The inclusion of Matiang’i in the party leadership has also drawn political attention, with speculation continuing over his possible national political ambitions ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The Political Parties Disputes Tribunal has since certified the matter as urgent.
The tribunal directed that all respondents be served within five days before the matter proceeds for hearing in Nairobi.
The case is expected to test the Registrar’s role in handling contested party leadership changes and could have broader implications for internal party democracy and governance within political parties.
Under the Political Parties Act, disputes relating to party leadership and internal management fall under the jurisdiction of the PPDT before parties can escalate matters to higher courts.
