- National Executive Director Wambui Gichuru said High Court issued conservatory orders directing that the status quo on the leadership of the party be maintained
- Kioni moved to effect changes in the NEC after eight officials were appointed to State positions.
Image: KEITH MUSEKE
Jubilee faction allied to President William Ruto has asked the Registrar of Political Parties Ann Nderitu to disregard appointments announced by embattled Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni on Tuesday.
In a letter signed by National Executive Director Wambui Gichuru, the party said the persons Kioni purported to appoint as National Executive Council members are serving the public in various capacities.
“Jeremiah Kioni is a technical expert in the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) drawing benefits from Kenyan tax payers through the Parliamentary Service Commission,” she said.
Gichuru added that Kagwe Gichohi is an appointed board member of the National Mining Corporation vide Gazette Notice 10658 of October 6, 2021 while Nderitu Mureithi is a public servant appointed as a Policy Research Fellow at Dedan Kimathi University.
She further said the High Court issued conservatory orders directing that the status quo on the leadership of the party be maintained as per Gazette Notice No. 9131 of 2022 pending hearing and determination of the matter.
Gichuru added that the purported NEC meeting of November 7, 2023 had been stayed by the Internal Dispute Resolution Committee and Kioni has not preferred any appeal against the same.
“His attempt to deem members of NEC as having resigned is an overreach symptomatic of dictatorship. All members are equal and are entitled in the first instance, to a fair hearing within the party’s internal dispute resolution mechanisms pursuant to Article 50 of the Constitution and Sections 14A, 14B, and 40(2) of the Political Parties Act,” she explained.
Kioni moved to effect changes in the NEC after eight officials were appointed to State positions.
He said the move is in line with Section 23 of the Leadership and Integrity Act, 2012, and Section 12 of the Political Parties Act, 2011.
Section 12 of the Political Parties Act, 2011 states that:
"An appointed state officer shall not engage in any political activity that may compromise or be seen to compromise the political neutrality of the office subject to any laws relating to elections."
Section 12 of the Political Parties Act, 2011 states that a public officer shall not engage in political activity that may compromise or be seen to compromise the political neutrality of that person's office.
"In light of these appointments, a National Executive Committee meeting held on November 7, 2023, made the changes to allow the party to continue functioning," Kioni said.
Those Kioni kicked out are Naomi Shaban (Deputy Party Leader (Outreach); Peter Ole Mositet, Deputy Party Leader (Programs); Jimmy Angwenyi, Deputy Party Leader (Strategy) and Nelson Dzuya, National chairperson.
The others are Joel Kibe (Business Council: National chairperson); Mutava Musyimi (Deputy National Organizing Secretary); Fatuma Gedi (Women League national chairperson) and Joshua Kutuny Deputy Secretary General.
Kioni said the appointments have been communicated to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties to update their records.