Aasai

In a major political boost for former President Uhuru Kenyatta, the High Court has handed him full control of the Jubilee Party, marking a significant win for his faction in the ongoing leadership tussle. The ruling effectively re-establishes Kenyatta as the official party leader, affirming the legitimacy of resolutions made during a crucial National Delegates Convention (NDC) held in May 2023.

The judgment, delivered by the Civil Division of the Milimani High Court, upheld the decisions of both the Jubilee National Executive Committee (NEC) and the NDC, which met on April 28 and May 22, 2023, respectively. In its ruling, the court stated, “The National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting and the National Delegates Convention (NDC) held on April 28 and May 22, 2023 respectively be and is hereby upheld.”

This declaration overturned a previous decision by the party’s Internal Disputes Resolution Committee (IDRC), which had nullified the NDC resolutions. With the new ruling, all decisions and leadership changes endorsed during those meetings now stand validated, providing clarity and renewed legitimacy to Kenyattas camp.

As a result, key allies of the former president have been formally reinstated. Saitoti Torome has been confirmed as the National Chairman, while Jeremiah Kioni continues as the Secretary General, solidifying the leadership structure as endorsed in the May 2023 convention.

Jubilees legal team confirmed that they are now in the process of forwarding the validated NDC resolutions to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) for formal registration and adoption. This step is seen as a final seal of legitimacy, ensuring that the party’s leadership structure is officially recognized in the national political landscape.

This ruling comes as a setback to the rival faction led by EALA MP Kanini Kega, which had previously won a favorable decision from the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT). That earlier ruling had cast doubts on the legitimacy of the May 2023 convention. However, with the High Courts new decision, the PPDT verdict has effectively been rendered null and void.

Adding to the dramatic twist in the party’s internal battle, former Jubilee Chairman Nelson Dzuya—who had earlier aligned with the Kega-led faction—has now thrown his weight behind the Uhuru camp. In a surprising but significant move, Dzuya consented to the resolutions passed at the Special National Delegates Convention (SNDC), which he acknowledged as valid and lawfully convened. His consent was formally filed through lawyer Jackson Awele and supported by a new legal representative for Jubilees IDRC, Franklin Mwendani.

During the court proceedings, Awele argued that the disagreement between Dzuya and other factions had been resolved, rendering the IDRC functionally obsolete in the matter. He also questioned the legal standing of the IDRC, stating it lacked the corporate capacity to initiate or defend court proceedings.

This ruling marks a turning point in the Jubilee Party’s internal wrangles. For Kenyatta, it is not just a legal victory, but also a powerful political statement that reaffirms his influence in party affairs. With the ORPP now expected to ratify the leadership structure, the former president is poised to reassert his role in national politics through a fully consolidated party.

As Jubilee prepares to chart its course forward, the ruling provides a fresh opportunity for unity and stability within the party ranks—signaling the beginning of a new chapter under Uhuru Kenyatta’s reaffirmed leadership.