Uhuru ready to hand over Jubilee leadership after High Court ruling

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has signalled that he is ready to step aside as Jubilee Party leader following a High Court ruling that upheld restrictions on retired presidents holding formal party office.

In a statement issued through his office on Tuesday, September 15, Uhuru said he had accepted the judgment with respect for the Judiciary and viewed it as an opportunity to resolve the long-running question over Jubilee’s leadership.

He said the ruling had effectively removed the legal uncertainty surrounding the party’s leadership transition.

“The Office of the former President has taken note of the High Court’s ruling upholding Section 6 of the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act, which guides the transition of retired presidents from formal political party leadership,” the statement said.

Uhuru said the decision should not be interpreted as shutting him out of politics.

Instead, he described it as a reminder that political leadership extends beyond holding a formal office.

“The former President has received this ruling in a spirit of profound respect for the Judiciary. He notes that the court’s ruling is not a restriction on his political life; it is a reaffirmation of our democratic maturity,” the statement added.

Handover now moves back to Jubilee

The immediate political consequence is likely to be felt inside Jubilee, where Uhuru has remained at the centre of the party's leadership structure since leaving State House in 2022.

Uhuru said the delay in handing over the party chairmanship was not because he was unwilling to leave office.

He attributed it to an internal dispute that required legal clarification.

“With the court’s guidance, that path is now clear,” his office said.

He has now expressed willingness to see the handover completed through Jubilee’s own constitutional procedures and in accordance with the law.

That distinction matters.

The High Court did not appoint a new Jubilee leader. Nor did it direct the party to hand the position to any particular individual.

The next step therefore lies with Jubilee’s internal organs and the procedures governing its leadership.

What the court actually decided

Justice Lawrence Mugambi on Monday dismissed a petition challenging Section 6 of the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act.

The law provides that a retired president cannot hold office in a political party for more than six months after leaving the presidency.

The court found that the provision does not unlawfully interfere with freedom of association, political participation or equality.

Importantly, the judgment does not prevent former presidents from remaining politically active.

A retired president can still belong to a political party and participate in political activities. The restriction concerns holding formal party office beyond the six-month period.

For Uhuru, who left office in September 2022, the ruling therefore puts his continued position as Jubilee’s formal party leader under a much clearer legal question.

Jubilee still has an internal leadership problem

While the court ruling removes one obstacle, Jubilee’s transition is unlikely to be as straightforward as simply naming a replacement.

The party has undergone several leadership changes ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Fred Matiang’i is a deputy party leader and Jubilee’s presidential candidate, while Jeremiah Kioni was moved from secretary-general to deputy party leader earlier this year.

There is also a fresh complication.

On September 11, the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal nullified Moitalel Ole Kenta’s appointment as Jubilee secretary-general after finding that he was not a registered Jubilee member when he was appointed. The decision adds another layer to a party already dealing with disputes over its officials and internal structures.

That means the question facing Jubilee is no longer simply when Uhuru leaves.

It is also who takes charge, through which process, and whether the party can settle its internal disputes before the 2027 campaign intensifies.

A political transition with 2027 in view

Jubilee is entering an important phase.

Matiang’i has emerged as the party’s presidential candidate, while Kioni has recently been campaigning for his candidacy, including calling for him to appear on the 2027 presidential ballot.

The party has also been reorganising its structures as it positions itself for the next election.

Uhuru’s departure from the formal leadership could therefore mark more than a compliance exercise. It could signal a shift from a party still strongly associated with its former president to one increasingly driven by its current political team.

But the handover will only be complete when Jubilee follows its constitution and settles the outstanding leadership questions.

For now, Uhuru says he is ready.

“The former President affirms his absolute willingness to see the handover completed openly, lawfully, and in strict accordance with the party’s constitution,” his office said.

The next move is now with Jubilee.

Category: News

Related Explainer: Explainer: What happened to milk in Kenya?

About the Author

Maureen Onyango is a journalist passionate about storytelling, life coaching and spiritual lessons. She studied at the Kenya Institute of Management and enjoys telling stories that inform, inspire and empower communities.