Uhuru Kenyatta Agrees to Handover Jubilee Leadership After Court Ruling

Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has agreed to transfer control of the Jubilee Party following a High Court ruling that validates a law prohibiting retired presidents from holding formal party leadership roles for more than six months after their retirement. The Office of the Former President confirmed the decision on Tuesday, stating that Kenyatta respected the court's ruling and saw it as an affirmation of Kenya's democratic institutions.

The former president noted that leadership transcends the position held, emphasizing the trust one cultivates.

The court ruling, delivered by Justice Lawrence Mugambi, affirmed the validity of Section 6 of the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act. This section governs the transition of retired presidents, stipulating that they cannot hold formal party leadership positions beyond six months post-retirement. Kenyatta's term ended in September 2022, meaning the six-month limit expired in early 2023.

The ruling comes after years of internal disputes over the leadership of the Jubilee Party. In 2023, a faction within the party declared Kenyatta's position vacant and appointed Sabina Chege as interim party leader, citing the legal provision. Kenyatta and his allies contested the changes, arguing that they violated the Jubilee Party constitution.

The Office of the Former President clarified that the delay in leadership transfer was not due to Kenyatta's reluctance but an internal party dispute that required legal clarification. Kenyatta affirmed his willingness to facilitate the handover, emphasizing an open, lawful, and constitutionally compliant process. He welcomed the new chapter for the Jubilee Party, built on the rule of law and guided by the party's constitution.