In a major development in Kenyan politics, former President Uhuru Kenyatta has been ousted as the Jubilee party leader amid escalating internal conflicts within the party. According to reports, the Kanini Kega-led faction of the party has declared that former Murang’a Woman Rep Sabina Chege will take over as the new party leader on an acting capacity following a National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held on Tuesday.
The decision to remove Kenyatta as the party leader comes as a surprise to many, given his influential role in Kenyan politics for several years. Kenyatta has been the leader of the Jubilee party since its formation in 2016 and played a key role in its victory in the 2017 presidential election.
However, in recent months, the party has been plagued by internal divisions, with factions loyal to Deputy President William Ruto and those loyal to Kenyatta clashing over various issues.
According to Kega, the decision to remove Kenyatta was taken after a majority of the party's NEC members voted in favor of the move. Kega further stated that the decision was aimed at restoring order and unity within the party, which has been facing numerous challenges in recent times.
"We have replaced him with Sabina Chege, who will now serve as the acting party leader," Kega said after the NEC meeting in Nairobi.
The move has been met with mixed reactions from political analysts and members of the public, with some praising it as a bold move aimed at restoring order and unity within the party, while others have criticized it as a reckless decision that could further deepen the internal divisions within the party.
Kenyatta has not yet responded to the decision, but sources close to him say that he is likely to challenge it in court. It remains to be seen how the decision will affect the future of the Jubilee party and the wider political landscape in Kenya.
Meanwhile, Sabina Chege has assumed her new role as the acting party leader, and she is expected to work towards restoring order and unity within the party. Chege, who is a former journalist, is well known in Kenyan politics and is seen as a unifying figure who could bring the different factions within the party together.