The Jubilee Party is the ruling political party in Kenya. It was founded on September 8, 2016, after 11 small parties were merged as a way to form one formidable political party to outwith the opposition..
The parties which dissolved to form a coalition were the Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP), Grand National Union (GNU), Ford People, The National Alliance, and the United Republican Party (URP).
Others were the United Democratic Forum (UDF), Alliance Party of Kenya (APK), Chama cha Uzalendo (CCU), Republican Congress (RC), New Ford Kenya and The Independence Party (TIP).
The National Alliance and the United Republican Party were the two biggest parties forming the party, they were led by President Uhuru Kenyatta and his deputy William Ruto respectively.
During the Jubilee party launch at the Moi International Sports Complex, Kasarani, an event attended by close to 60,000 supporters, President Uhuru Kenyatta said the party’s aim was to form a national party that would unite all Kenyans regardless of their tribe, gender, or religion.
“The aim is for Kenyans to have genuine political choices where any one of us can feel at home without regard to the spelling of their names, the colour of their skin, their place of worship, their gender, or whether or not they’re disabled,” he said.
Party officials
Party leader
President Uhuru Kenyatta is the party leader. He has held the position since November 2016.
The Head of State has chaired several meetings where perceived rebels were ousted from plum parliamentary positions and replaced with loyalists.
Deputy party leader
According to the party constitution, William Ruto is the deputy party leader. Ruto has been declared persona non grata at the party’s headquarters after he hinted at using the revamped United Democratic Alliance (UDA) as his 2022 political vehicle.
Party Chairman
Nelson Dzuya, a former URP politician who hails from Rabai Constituency in Kilifi county serves as the Jubilee Party chairman.
The powerful introverted official has been running the Jubilee party from behind the scenes.
He has an office at the Jubilee Party in Pangani, Nairobi. Dzuya usually presides most party organ meetings.
Vice-chairman
Former Gatanga MP David Murathe, who is believed to have President Uhuru Kenyatta’s hatchet man, is the party’s vice chairman.
David Murathe has technically become the de facto face of the party over the past few years where most of the founding politicians have been kicked out of the party.
The Jubilee Party vice-chair has on several occasions clashed with DP William Ruto over the running of the party.
Ruto has accused Murathe of ‘killing’ the Jubilee party so as to jeopardise his 2022 presidential bid. The former Agriculture minister argues the ruling party has been taken hostage by a few officials led by Murathe.
In his defense, Murathe accused Ruto of supporting another party (UDA) contrary to the Jubilee constitution.
In May 2021, rumours on social media circulated that Murathe had resigned as Jubilee vice chair after the outfit was embarrassed in three by-elections in Juja, Bonchari, and Rurii ward.
A statement by Albert Memusi, the director of communications disputed the claims saying he would continue to discharge his duties.
Secretary General
Raphael Tuju, the current Jubilee secretary-general, serves as the Jubilee Party spokesperson.
He heads the party’s secretariat and is responsible for communicating the party position on political matters in the country.
He was named the Cabinet Secretary without a portfolio in 2018. The job he says allows him to represent the president in meetings with sister political parties.
He also monitors government performance against the pre-election pledges.
Party membership
The Jubilee Party bagged 140 seats in the National Assembly and 24 in the Senate in the 2017 General.
To become a member, one has to apply and pay a subscription fee.
Governors, senators and members of parliament elected on a Jubilee ticket pay KSh 10,000 to the party in monthly subscription fees.
The party claims to have over 8 million registered members.
