If you are a regular user of the Thika Superhighway, you must have gazed at the locked doors and closed gates, wondering what secrets lie within the walls of the former Jubilee party offices.
For over a decade until 2022, the building, which served as the party’s nerve center, was a buzz of activity on a daily basis.
Since 2013, when the bond between retired President Uhuru Kenyatta and now President William Ruto was solid, the area has remained a symbol of political fervor.
The seven-storey prime structure with expansive glass elements situated in the Pangani area now stands in eerie abandonment, echoing the silence of an untold tale.
Over a year has passed since it was abandoned, yet the once-bustling center remains void of occupants, with the red and white party colours, symbols, and signs only leaving trails of who the previous owner was.
A small torn Jubilee flag also hangs loosely on one side of the structure.
The empty corridors now seem to hold the hushed conversations of yesteryears, leaving the abandoned structure as a poignant reminder of shifting political landscapes.
In August 2022, after the general election, the building said to be associated with a former top official in the late President Daniel Moi’s government was put up for auction.
"All that parcel of land known as LR no 209/1530 Emani Business Centre along Thika Road, Pangani area registered under Farmer Industry Limited, with a plinth area of 34, 000 square feet," the advertisement read.
Bidders were required to produce a deposit of Sh5 million by way of cash or a cheque before being allowed to bid.
It is still unknown if the bidding was done.
The former party’s Deputy Secretary General, Joshua Kutuny said they left and are no longer associated with it.
The sentiment was echoed by embattled party secretary general Jeremiah Kioni who said they were just tenants and relinquished it to the owner.
“We left there even though it still bears the name of the party. Those things are hard to remove; it might need a contractor to pull it,” Kioni told the Star.
The party was said to be paying about Sh90 million annually in rent for the building, which sits on 0.56-acre land, although Kioni declined to confirm it.
While it is not clear as to what led the party to abandon it, close sources attribute it to internal rifts among members and officials that stemmed from divisions between Uhuru and Ruto back in 2018.
There were also allegations of hidden debts and financial mismanagement, forcing the party to relinquish its physical stronghold.
So intense was the battle for its control that at one point, MPs allied to Ruto wrote to the clerk of the National Assembly to stop any further deductions of the monthly subscriptions.
Governors, senators, and MPs used to pay a Sh10, 000 subscription fee to the party—about Sh2 million monthly.
The money, in addition to the allocation from the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP), is used to run the party.
Parties are required to submit to the ORPP their work plans at the beginning of every financial year for approval and financing.
They are funded by the state to promote democracy, promote civic education and other electoral processes, facilitate participation by citizens in political life, popularisation of policies of the parties, payment of rent for party offices, payment of salaries for staff and other administrative expenses.
Currently, the two factions of leaders claiming ownership of the party have opened separate offices in parts of the city.
The Jubilee faction, led by EALA MP Kanini Kega has its offices at Kabutei Gardens in Kileleshwa.
On Thursday, Kioni announced that they had relocated their offices next to the Statehouse.
"It is hereby notified to the general public that the Jubilee Party Headquarters are located at Daraja House, along State House Road, directly opposite State House Gate B. All are welcome," he said.
