Change of guard: Uhuru relinquishes Jubilee Party leadership to Matiang’i
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta (left) interacts with former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i during the handover of leadership of the Jubilee Party at the party’s headquarters in Nairobi.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday relinquished the formal leadership of Jubilee Party but said he would remain in the outfit as a senior adviser, ensuring he retains a voice in its affairs as the opposition prepares for the 2027 General Election.
Mr Kenyatta told Jubilee members that he would remain a party member, attend its meetings and offer advice after handing over the leadership to former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, who has been endorsed by the party as its presidential candidate.
“I can’t leave Jubilee, to go where?” Mr Kenyatta asked in his address to party members after attending the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting that endorsed the changes, signalling that his departure from the party leadership should not be interpreted as an exit from Jubilee politics.
“I will take that senior adviser’s role. I will still attend Jubilee meetings and offer advice as a senior Jubilee Party member.”
The former President said the transition was about complying with the law and preparing the party for the next election rather than withdrawing from politics.
“As we wait for the NDC, Matiang’i, who was my deputy, will take the leadership position, so I’m not running away. We are just preparing ourselves for the next election,” he said.
Mr Kenyatta’s decision to remain in Jubilee preserves a political role for him at a time when the party’s leadership succession is becoming intertwined with wider opposition negotiations ahead of 2027.
The High Court ruled that a retired president cannot continue holding a formal leadership position in a political party beyond the period provided by law, while making clear that the restriction does not prevent a retired president from remaining a party member or participating in political activities.
Mr Kenyatta has accepted the ruling and is preparing to surrender the party leadership. Rather than leaving Jubilee, however, he intends to remain within its structures as a senior adviser, giving him an institutional platform from which to influence the party’s direction without holding the top office.
The arrangement comes as Jubilee navigates a potentially complicated succession.
Mr Kenyatta’s decision follows the party’s NEC endorsement of Dr Matiang’i as his successor, pending ratification by the National Delegates Convention (NDC).
Dr Matiang’i, who served as Mr Kenyatta’s Interior Cabinet Secretary, has already been endorsed by Jubilee as its presidential candidate for the 2027 election.
“I accept the appointment to lead Jubilee Party,” Dr Matiang’i said after Mr Kenyatta announced the decision.
He described Jubilee as a party of inclusion and urged members to work with other opposition groups.
“2027 is going to be a year of inclusion, a year of defining and reorienting leadership in this country,” he said.
Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i speaks at the Jubilee Party headquarters in Nairobi during the formal handover of the party leadership from former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
The transition nevertheless comes amid competing claims over who should succeed Mr Kenyatta.
Deputy Party Leader Jeremiah Kioni has expressed interest in becoming party leader, arguing that the position should be filled through the party’s constitutional structures and ultimately by delegates at an NDC.
Former Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu has similarly called for the party to hold an NDC rather than rely on an informal succession arrangement.
Dr Matiang’i’s endorsement by the NEC therefore does not necessarily settle the broader debate over who should formally lead Jubilee.
Mr Kenyatta’s continued presence could provide continuity as the party attempts to resolve those disagreements.
Mr Kenyatta also used the Jubilee gathering to revisit one of the most contested issues of his political legacy , the 2022 presidential election and his decision to support the late ODM leader Raila Odinga.
He rejected suggestions that he personally lost the 2022 election to President William Ruto, pointing out that he was not a candidate.
“When they say they beat me, is it me who was on the ballot or Raila Odinga? So how did they beat me when I was Raila’s right hand man? So why the lies in broad daylight?” Mr Kenyatta asked.
He went further, maintaining that Mr Odinga won the election despite the official results declaring Dr Ruto the winner. The Supreme Court upheld Dr Ruto’s election as president on September 5, 2022. IEBC declared Dr Ruto the winner with 7,176,141 votes against Mr Odinga’s 6,942,930, and the Supreme Court unanimously upheld the result.
“I did all I could to help Baba to become the president of the Republic of Kenya. We did all we could and he got the votes. To date, I know he won that election. I know that. We all know that,” he said.
Yesterday, UDA leadership dismissed Mr Kenyatta's 2022 remarks, accusing him of "living in a fool’s paradise."
"His claim that he still believes the late Prime Minister Raila Odinga won the 2022 election shows that he has never come to terms with the political defeat of that year," UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar said.
dismissed Mr Kenyatta's 2022 remarks, accusing him of "living in a fool’s paradise."
"His claim that he still believes the late Prime Minister Raila Odinga won the 2022 election shows that he has never come to terms with the political defeat of that year," Mr Omar said.
Mr Kenyatta’s remarks come against the backdrop of Dr Ruto’s renewed criticism of his predecessor during his recent five-day tour of Nyanza.
In Siaya, Dr Ruto questioned how Mr Kenyatta could defeat him in 2027 after failing to do so while he was President.
“Uhuru Kenyatta did not defeat me when he was President, and now I am the President, and he is retired is he going to defeat me?” Dr Ruto posed.
In Homa Bay, the President also accused Mr Kenyatta of working against his administration and said he had supported his former boss through four elections.
“My brother, I helped you when you needed someone to help you. I supported you in four elections and took care of you. When it was your turn to help me, you never did, even for a single day,” Dr Ruto said.
The remarks have reopened the political dispute between the two men, who were elected together in 2013 and 2017 before falling out after Mr Kenyatta’s 2018 handshake with Mr Odinga.
Dr Ruto’s Nyanza tour provided the latest backdrop for the confrontation. The President sought to present his cooperation with ODM leaders as a continuation of the relationship he established with Mr Odinga before his death, while accusing opposition figures of working with Mr Kenyatta against his administration.
Mr Kenyatta, however, rejected the continued focus on him years after leaving State House.
“After the 2022 elections and court upheld it, we did not cause chaos. I handed over power in broad daylight. There was no violence. But four years later they are still saying Uhuru this, Uhuru that. Were you given leadership to talk about Uhuru?” he said.
Mr Kenyatta also pushed back against descriptions of him as a political sponsor or rebel leader.
“They are calling me sponyo. So, speaking your mind in a democratic country is wrong?” he asked.
“I have not forced anybody to take my views. Every Kenyan has the right to make decisions.”
He urged politicians to move away from personal attacks and concentrate on their programmes.
“Let’s stop such kind of politics and look for leaders who will foster development. Let us reduce corruption, let them serve the people. I have no time for insults. Let’s foster unity.”
The comments come against the backdrop of President Ruto’s recent description of Mr Kenyatta as a “rebel leader” over his continued involvement in opposition politics. Dr Matiang’i has rejected that description, saying political opposition and criticism of government do not amount to rebellion.
Mr Kenyatta ruled out seeking the presidency again, noting that he had already served the two terms allowed by the Constitution.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta (left) interacts with former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i during the handover of leadership of the Jubilee Party at the party’s headquarters in Nairobi.
“I have sought the presidency three times in 2002 and they told me I was not yet ripe for the seat, in 2013 and Kenyans gave it to me, same as in 2017 twice,” he said.
“Our Constitution speaks of two terms. If it will change in future, I don’t know, but for now it’s two terms. For us we abide by the laws.”
Instead, Mr Kenyatta said Jubilee should prepare candidates for every level of elective politics and negotiate with other parties over the presidential contest.
“We want to seek candidates from MCAs, Senators, MPs, Governors to contest on our party’s ticket and look for a president to lead our country,” he said.
That leaves Mr Kenyatta formally out of the party leadership but still inside its political architecture and involved in determining its direction ahead of 2027.
The transition has also revived questions about the political future of Mr Kenyatta’s younger brother, Muhoho Kenyatta.
A highly placed Jubilee source familiar with the discussions said there had been a plan to introduce Mr Muhoho into the party’s NEC as part of changes being considered around the leadership transition.
The proposal, according to the source, was shelved at the last minute.
The source said the idea was considered as part of broader discussions on the composition of the party’s top decision-making organ, but did not materialise during the NEC changes.
There is, however, no indication that Mr Muhoho is taking over any formal party position.
The emerging arrangement could give Mr Kenyatta a different political function ahead of 2027.
Rather than leading Jubilee, he could operate as an elder and adviser while Dr Matiang’i takes responsibility for the party’s day-to-day political mobilisation and presidential campaign.
Mr Kenyatta explicitly placed that responsibility on his successor.
“Matiang’i will now hold hands with other opposition leaders and plan for a winning strategy,” he said.
The former President also urged Jubilee to work with like-minded parties and avoid internal litigation.
“Let’s stop that and unite with like-minded parties. Sideshows won’t make us win.”
Dr Matiang’i struck a similar conciliatory tone, urging rival factions to use party structures rather than courts to resolve disputes.
“So, to our brothers, let’s not go to court, we have structures to sort our problems out,” he said.
He added: “We can be democratic but also have to be disciplined as we go forward.”
They were referring to recent legal matters that challenged the elevation of Moitalel Ole Kenta as the party’s Secretary-General.
Follow ourWhatsApp channel for breaking news updates and more stories like this.
