Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has handed over the leadership of the Jubilee Party to former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i. This move marks the end of Uhuru's tenure as party leader, but he will remain a senior adviser and member. Matiang'i's appointment is pending confirmation by the party's National Delegates Convention (NDC). Uhuru described Matiang'i as an intelligent and honest leader who delivers, does not engage in unnecessary conflict, and loves Kenyans.
Uhuru announced the leadership change as Jubilee restructures and prepares for the 2027 General Election. He urged party members to support Matiang'i, saying, "I am asking you, as Jubilee members, to accept Fred Matiang'i to take my position." Uhuru also cautioned party supporters against responding to political attacks with insults, instead urging them to focus on selling the party's policies. "Votes are about a vision. Sell your policies," he advised.
Matiang'i accepted the appointment, thanking Uhuru for his leadership and guidance. He recalled his experience working in Uhuru's administration, saying, "We have worked together and you have advised me on so many things. I have had a front-row seat in your government." Matiang'i expressed his commitment to preserving Jubilee's founding commitment to inclusion and pledged to work with party members to prepare for the next election.
Matiang'i called on Jubilee members to work together, describing the next election as a "unity merge to the future of our country." He appealed to members involved in internal disputes to use the party's structures rather than the courts to resolve their differences. "I want to invite all our brothers; let us not go to court. We have structures to sort out our issues," he said.
Matiang'i also emphasized the need for discipline within the party, saying, "Discipline is destiny. We are going nowhere if we are not disciplined people." He promised to engage leaders and members across the country as he takes charge of the party. "In the coming days, we will have opportunities to engage across the country and we will meet with all of you leaders wherever you are and work with you," he said.
Jubilee Party was formed in 2016 through the merger of 11 political parties, including Uhuru's The National Alliance (TNA) and William Ruto's United Republican Party (URP). The party retained the presidency under Uhuru and Ruto in the 2017 General Election. Matiang'i served in several Cabinet positions under Uhuru, including Education and Interior, before being appointed as the new party leader.
The leadership transition comes after years of internal disputes that have repeatedly split Jubilee's leadership. Matiang'i's elevation brings him to the top of the same political outfit under which he served in government. He pledged to give his best to the party and asked for God's guidance as he takes on the new role. "I pledge my best as a human being, but I also pray that the God who has brought me this far will not let me put Him to shame," he said.
Key points
- Former President Uhuru Kenyatta hands over Jubilee Party leadership to Fred Matiang'i
- Matiang'i pledges to preserve Jubilee's founding commitment to inclusion
- The leadership transition comes after years of internal disputes within the party
