Kioni offers to succeed Uhuru Kenyatta as Jubilee party leader

Jubilee Deputy Party Leader Jeremiah Kioni has offered himself to succeed former President Uhuru Kenyatta as party leader following a High Court ruling requiring retired presidents to relinquish formal leadership positions in political parties.

Kioni said he would seek the position through the party’s established constitutional processes, with delegates expected to make the final decision at the National Delegates Convention.

In a statement on Tuesday, Kioni said he had taken note of Uhuru’s position on the transition and his call for an open, transparent and lawful handover.

“In light of His Excellency’s call for an open, transparent, and lawful process of handing over the leadership of the party, I hereby offer myself for the position of Party Leader of the great Jubilee Party,” Kioni said.

He said the party’s leadership should be determined through its internal democratic processes rather than being installed by individuals.

“Jubilee is a national party and a former ruling party. As such, our leaders are not installed; they are elected by the party delegates at the National Delegates Convention,” he said.

Kioni said the process should preserve what he described as Jubilee’s democratic tradition and guide the party through the leadership transition.

The announcement comes after a High Court ruling by Justice Lawrence Mugambi upholding legal restrictions on retired presidents holding formal leadership positions in political parties beyond six months after leaving office.

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The ruling does not bar retired presidents from remaining members of political parties or participating in political activities.

Uhuru’s office has since indicated that the former President will comply with the court’s decision and facilitate a leadership transition.

The former President had previously described his continued involvement in Jubilee as part of a transition process rather than an attempt to make a political comeback.

In May, he said his intention was to guide the party through its reorganisation and hand it to new leaders.

Kioni thanked Uhuru for his leadership of Jubilee and for his role in building the party, saying he expected the former President to continue offering guidance during the transition.

“I take this opportunity to thank Uhuru Kenyatta for his leadership of our party and, before that, of our nation,” Kioni said.

Jubilee has undergone several leadership changes as it prepares for the 2027 General Election. Kioni was moved from Secretary General to Deputy Party Leader in charge of operations in January, with the party saying the restructuring was aimed at strengthening its organisation and grassroots structures.

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