A section of Jubilee party leaders leaning on President William Ruto‘s side last week staged a coup in Rtd. President Uhuru Kenyatta’s party.
The leader’s majority of those who had previously met President Ruto at State House sent packing their top officials in a resolution reached at during the National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Nakuru.
The disgruntled members convened the meeting without their officials including the former Head of State and decided to suspend three party officials.
Jubilee party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni, vice chairman David Murathe, and National treasurer Kagwe Gichohi were suspended EALA MP Kanini Kega, and Aldas MP Adana Keynan seeking to take over the leadership of the outfit.
However, on Thursday, February 16, ex-President Uhuru Kenyatta’s handshake partner Raila Odinga stormed Jubilee party headquarters in Kileleshwa to quell the attempted coup in the former ruling party.
Raila who was accompanied by Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua, and Jubilee Secretary Jeremiah Kioni accused the Head of State of being behind the ongoing power struggle in the Jubilee party.
Addressing journalists at the new party offices, the veteran politician accused President Ruto of using taxpayer money to fund a coup in opposition parties.
“The Kenya Kwanza administration has launched an all-round assault on our hard-earned multi-party democracy. There is an all-round push to kill other parties by opting MPs into its ranks and intimidate all those that resist the administration’s illegal, unconstitutional, and anti-democratic maneuvers,” Raila said.
On his part, former Ndaragua MP Jeremiah Kioni who was reinstated as Jubilee Secretary General said attempts to hijack and destroy the once most popular party started even before the 2022 General Election.
“There have been attempts to hijack and destroy the Jubilee Party, and these attempts started in June of last year. Those efforts have not ceased,” Kioni said.
