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| Photo Collage/Uhuru Kenyatta and Jeremiah Kioni |
Jeremiah Kioni Offers Himself to Lead Jubilee Party as Uhuru Kenyatta Backs Leadership Transition
Jubilee Party Deputy Party Leader Jeremiah Kioni has declared his interest in taking over as the party’s leader, following recent developments surrounding the transition of the party’s leadership.
In a statement responding to comments by Jubilee Party Leader and former President Uhuru Kenyatta regarding the High Court ruling in Petition No. E532 of 2024, Kioni said he was offering himself for the position of Party Leader.
Kioni said his decision was guided by Uhuru’s call for an open, transparent and lawful process in handing over the leadership of Jubilee Party.
“I hereby offer myself for the position of Party Leader of the great Jubilee Party,” Kioni stated, adding that the process should follow the party’s constitution, processes and procedures.
The Jubilee deputy party leader emphasized that party leaders should not be appointed or installed, but elected by delegates during the National Delegates Convention (NDC).
According to Kioni, the democratic tradition has been central to Jubilee Party since its formation and should continue to guide the party during the current leadership transition.
He also paid tribute to Uhuru Kenyatta for his contribution to Jubilee Party, describing his leadership as significant in building the party into what he termed a formidable political movement.
Kioni said he trusted Uhuru would continue providing guidance to the party during the transition.
The declaration now puts Kioni among the politicians positioning themselves to play a leading role in shaping Jubilee’s next chapter.
He further said he looked forward to engaging party members and delegates across the country as the party prepares for the next phase of its political journey.
The leadership transition comes at a significant period for Jubilee, a party that played a major role in Kenya’s national politics after its formation and was the ruling party during Uhuru Kenyatta’s presidency.
Kioni concluded his statement with the slogan #MbelePamoja, signalling his call for unity as the party navigates the leadership changes.
Uhuru Kenyatta Responds to High Court Ruling
The declaration by Kioni follows a statement from the Office of former President Uhuru Kenyatta concerning the High Court ruling by Justice Lawrence Mugambi.
The Office of the 4th President said Uhuru had taken note of the High Court’s ruling upholding Section 6 of the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act, which guides the transition of retired presidents from formal political party leadership.
Uhuru received the ruling with respect for the Judiciary, with his office describing the decision as a reaffirmation of Kenya’s democratic maturity.
The statement said the former President does not view the ruling as a restriction on his political life, noting that leadership is not defined by the position one occupies but by the trust one cultivates.
On the delayed handover of the Jubilee Party chairmanship, Uhuru’s office said the process had been affected by a contested internal dispute that required legal clarity.
Following the court’s guidance, the office said the path to the handover was now clear.
The former President also expressed his willingness to see the handover completed openly, lawfully and in strict accordance with the Jubilee Party constitution.
Uhuru further welcomed what his office described as a new chapter for Jubilee, built on the rule of law, guided by the party’s constitution and carried forward by the next generation of leadership.
OFFICE OF THE 4TH PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF KENYA
PRESS STATEMENT
On the High Court Ruling of September 2026 by Justice Lawrence Mugambi
NAIROBI, KENYA — The Office of the former President has taken note of the High Court’s ruling upholding Section 6 of the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act, which guides the transition of retired presidents from formal political party leadership.
H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta has received this ruling in a spirit of profound respect for the judiciary. He notes that the court’s ruling is not a restriction on his political life; it is a reaffirmation of our democratic maturity. The 4th President of the Republic of Kenya acknowledges that leadership is not the chair one occupies; it is the trust one cultivates.
In regard to the long-delayed handover of the Party chairmanship, the Office clarifies that this process was not stalled by reluctance, but by a contested internal dispute that required legal clarity. With the court’s guidance, that path is now clear.
The former President affirms his absolute willingness to see the handover completed openly, lawfully, and in strict accordance with the Party’s constitution. He looks forward to the Party’s processes moving forward without hindrance.
H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta welcomes this new chapter for Jubilee, built on the rule of law, guided by the Party’s constitution, and carried forward by the next generation of leadership.
Issued by:
Kanze Dena-Mararo, CBS
Secretary Communications
Office of the 4th President of the Republic of Kenya
Nairobi, Kenya
Tuesday, 15th September, 2026
Kioni Calls for Election of Jubilee Party Leader
In his response, Kioni stressed that Jubilee Party leaders should be elected through the party’s established democratic structures rather than being installed.
He said the National Delegates Convention remains the appropriate forum through which delegates should determine the party’s leadership.
Kioni’s declaration comes as Jubilee prepares for a leadership transition following the High Court ruling and Uhuru Kenyatta’s indication that he is ready to facilitate the handover.
The development could pave the way for a fresh contest for the leadership of the party, with Kioni now publicly positioning himself for the top position.
The deputy party leader said he would engage Jubilee members and delegates across the country as the party charts what he described as its next chapter.
The leadership changes are expected to attract attention as Jubilee seeks to determine its direction and leadership structure going forward.
