Jubilee wrangles: Why Uhuru poised to reclaim full control of party
The legal battles between the two factions have been ongoing for over a year, with multiple court rulings favouring Kenyatta's leadership.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta is on the verge of regaining full control of the Jubilee Party after a key faction allied to rebel leaders changed its stance.
In a significant political shift, Jubilee Chairman Nelson Dzuya, who was initially aligned with the Kanini Kega-led faction, consented to leadership changes proposed by Uhuru's camp.
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Dzuya's decision marks a turning point in the long-running leadership dispute that has divided the party.
On Thursday, he formally agreed to implement resolutions made during the Special National Delegates Convention (SNDC) held in May 2023, where the former president was present.
The latest development saw Dzuya file the consent through lawyer Jackson Awele, a move backed by the Jubilee Party's Internal Disputes Resolution Committee's (IDRC) new legal representative, Franklin Mwendani.
The ongoing battle for the party's leadership began when the SNDC expelled members deemed disloyal and appointed new members to the National Executive Committee (NEC).
However, Dzuya's faction challenged the move at the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT), which ruled that the convention was not lawfully convened.
Uhuru's allies countered by appealing the ruling, arguing that the party leader has the authority to call meetings at any time without a mandatory seven-day notice.
During the recent hearing, Awele argued that the leadership dispute between the party and Dzuya had ceased, effectively rendering the IDRC of no further authority. He further questioned the committee's legal capacity to sue or be sued.
"The appellant is a political party funded by public funds. Prudence dictates that the party resources be used to properly manage the party and not to waste them on leadership wrangles. It is accordingly in the public interest that this appeal be compromised in the terms proposed in the consent dated, March 10, 2025," observed Awele.
The legal battles between the two factions have been ongoing for over a year, with multiple court rulings favouring Uhuru's leadership.
In September 2024, the Nairobi High Court upheld his leadership, nullifying actions taken by the Kega faction. They later sought interim stay orders from the Court of Appeal, but in November, the court declined their request, handing Uhuru's camp another victory.
Despite these rulings, the final step in solidifying Uhuru's control lies in the appointment of new NEC members. The case is now awaiting a ruling by the Court of Appeal, scheduled for May 15, 2025.
If the court rules in Uhuru's favour, he will have undisputed authority over the party, effectively ending the leadership wrangles that have plagued the party since the 2022 General Election.
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