The tribunal reinstates expelled Jubilee officials, Kioni, Murathe and Gichohi after Nderitu approves their dismissal.
On May 19, Anne Nderitu, registrar of political parties, confirmed the expulsion of the three officials. She sent out an address confirming that Jubilee followed due process in the removal of Kioni and Murathe. Moreover, this address confirms that Chege and Kega assume the roles of acting party leader and secretary general respectively.
Three days after, the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal (PPDT) issue a ruling that reinstates the expelled officials. This ruling creates more confusion amid the struggle for ownership between the ‘rebels’ and the ‘loyal’. Rebels are those who chose to support the Kenya Kwanza coalition and loyal are those that are in support of the Azimio coalition.
Interim conservatory orders are hereby issued staying the decision delivered by Jubilee Party NDC on May 10, 2023 to expel Murathe, Kioni and Gichohi from membership.
The tribunal ruled
Following this, the tribunal goes further to stop Ms Nderitu from acting on the decision made to expel Jubilee’s three top officials. This act nullifies the confirmation made three days ago on the legitimacy of the expulsions made at the party.
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In this ruling, the tribunal says that Kioni, Murathe and Gichohi remain in office until May 31, which is the next hearing. Therefore, the tribunal has ordered the Kioni faction to serve the Jubilee party with their court pleadings. Nungo, the chairperson of the tribunal, granted the party five days to file their responses to the allegations made.
This ruling comes in response to a petition filed by the Kioni faction after their dismissal. Kega faction accused the three of misconduct and non-adherence to party rules and constitution. They, however, argue that the dismissal was illegal and wrong.
The tribunal was not convinced that the NDC meeting held on February 10th was properly convened. It is in this meeting that Kioni was replaced by Kega as acting secretary general and Kenyan replaced Murathe as the vice chairperson.
