Former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party has filed a petition against the dissident group led by MPs Sabina Chege (Nominated) and Kanini Kega (East African Legislative Assembly) before the Milimani High Court.
Uhuru’s camp accused its adversary, who is supposedly being funded by President Ruto, of continuing to pose as party officials as the leadership battle raged on.
“We filed a contempt case against the rebel group at the Milimani High Court yesterday.” Despite several court rulings, the rebels continue to pose as Jubilee Party officials, conduct business on behalf of the Party, and cause confusion among our members,” the party said in a statement.
Lady Justice Janet Mulwa directed that the urgent motion be served on all parties involved. The hearing date has been set for October 23, 2023.
The leadership squabbles in Jubilee began immediately after the 2022 General Election, when both groups claimed power as genuine party leaders.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s party backed Azimio’s Raila Odinga, who lost the election to Ruto.
Following Ruto’s inauguration, East African Legislative Assembly MP Kanini Kega declared himself the new Secretary General, suspending Kenyatta confidant Jeremiah Kioni and chairman David Murathe.
Kega rallied a group of party officials, notably Sabina Chege, and shifted allegiance to Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Uhuru acted immediately to retake control of the party and restore party discipline by removing the dissidents.
In defiance of the expulsion, Kega and his colleagues continued to identify as Jubilee Party members, naming Sabina Chege as interim party leader.
Chege has claimed that the party will henceforth operate as a separate political party, independent of the Azimio la Umoja or Kenya Kwanza coalitions.
She mentioned that they had given documentation expressing their political attitude to the National Assembly.
