Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka will convene a joint meeting of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition Party Council and National Executive Committee in the coming days, to consider the position of former President Uhuru Kenyatta as chairman of the Council.
The move follows Monday's High Court ruling, when Justice Lawrence Mugambi declared that retired presidents cannot hold leadership positions in political parties for more than six months after leaving office, a ruling that prompted Uhuru to announce that he would give up his position as Jubilee Party leader.
Justice Mugambi delivered the judgement in Petition No. E532 of 2024 and anchored on Section 6(1) of the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act, No. 11 of 2003. The court clarified that while retired presidents are barred from holding party office, they remain free to be members of parties and to participate in political activities.
In a statement on Tuesday, September 15, Musyoka welcomed the decision, noting that the former president had shown respect for the judiciary by accepting the court's decision.
"We welcome this position. His readiness to comply forthwith with the finding of the court reflects the statesmanship Kenyans have long associated with him," the Wiper leader said.
He added that Azimio would separately consider what the judgment means for Kenyatta's position as chairman of the coalition's Council. The process, he said, will be guided by the law, the coalition constitution, the Political Parties Act and the Deed of Agreement.
"I will convene a joint session of the Council and the National Executive Committee for that purpose, and its outcome will be communicated to Kenyans in good time," he said.
Any changes resulting from the process, Musyoka said, will be communicated to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties. The succession of Jubilee's leadership, meanwhile, will be handled by the party's own organs.
Beyond the question of party leadership, the statement also stressed that the court ruling does not prevent Uhuru from remaining involved in political activities, saying the decision only affects the holding of formal party leadership positions.
"The court was clear that the restriction reaches only the holding of formal party leadership positions beyond six months after leaving office. It does not curtail the right to join a political party, to remain a member of it, or to take part in its activities," he said.
"Jubilee Party remains a valued member of this coalition party, and President Kenyatta remains a member of our movement whose counsel we shall continue to seek."
Kalonzo's announcement comes as Azimio navigates its future leadership structure ahead of 2027, with Jubilee's transition expected to be handled internally in line with its constitution after Uhuru's exit.
