Former MP Ngunjiri Wambugu seeks to block new Jubilee Party leadership changes

Former Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu has moved to the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT)  seeking urgent orders to stop changes made to the leadership of Jubilee Party.

In the case filed in PPDT, Wambugu is challenging the decision by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties to approve and record the party’s new officials.

Those named in the dispute include Fred Matiang'i, Jeremiah Kioni, Vincent Mogaka Kemosi, Moitalel Ole Kenta, Zack Kinuthia and Yasir Noor.

Wambugu says he had already filed a formal objection over the planned changes and expected the issue to be resolved before any decision was made.

He argued that the tribunal, after filing the objection, Jubilee Party invited him for a meeting on May 7 to discuss his concerns. During that meeting, he says party officials gave him documents and explanations and assured him that his concerns would be addressed before any changes were implemented.

Wambugu says he asked for time to review the documents and believed the matter was still under discussion.

However, he says he later discovered that the Registrar had already approved and recorded the changes through a letter dated May 21 and Gazette Notice No. 5749.

He argues that he was never informed of the decision and was not given a chance to respond before the changes were approved.

According to Wambugu, Jubilee Party wrongly informed the Registrar that the issues he had raised had been resolved, yet he had not withdrawn his objection or agreed to the process.

He also accuses the Registrar of approving the changes without first confirming the matter with him.

Wambugu says if the tribunal does not intervene, the newly approved officials could immediately assume office and begin making decisions on behalf of the party before the dispute is heard and determined.

He argues that this could affect the party’s leadership and internal decision-making and make the case pointless.

The tribunal has certified the matter as urgent and ordered all respondents to be served.

They have been given five days to file their responses before the matter proceeds to hearing in Nairobi.