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| Jubilee Party (Kenya) | |
|---|---|
| Name | Jubilee Party |
| Leader | Uhuru Kenyatta |
| Founded | 2016 |
| Headquarters | Nairobi |
| Ideology | Big tent |
| Position | Centre-right |
| Country | Kenya |
Jubilee Party (Kenya) The Jubilee Party is a major political party in Kenya formed in 2016 as a merger of several parties to support the administration of President Uhuru Kenyatta and Deputy President William Ruto. It aimed to consolidate forces from the The National Alliance (TNA), United Republican Party (URP), Narc-Kenya, Ford–Kenya, and other parties to contest the 2017 general election and subsequent electoral cycles. The party has been central to disputes involving the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission, the Supreme Court of Kenya, and rival formations such as Orange Democratic Movement and Kenya Kwanza Alliance.
Jubilee's origins trace to political realignments following the 2013 presidential contest between Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga, and negotiations involving figures from William Ruto's camp, Musalia Mudavadi, Kalonzo Musyoka, and leaders from the Coast region such as Isaac Ruto. The merger process involved agreements between parties including Jubilee Alliance, New Ford Kenya, Homeboyz Party, Chama Cha Uzalendo, Mazingira Greens Party, and Peoples Democratic Party. The 2017 general election saw Jubilee field coalitions against the NASA coalition led by Raila Odinga and the ODM; the post-election period included the nullification of a presidential result by the Supreme Court of Kenya and a disputed repeat poll. In subsequent years Jubilee faced internal fractures with members defecting to formations like United Democratic Alliance and the Amani National Congress, while remaining influential in county governments including Nairobi County, Mombasa County, Kisumu County, and Nakuru County.
Jubilee's formal structure included a National Executive Committee, a National Steering Committee, and county coordinators aligned with the Council of Governors and the Senate of Kenya. Key leaders have included Uhuru Kenyatta as party leader and Raila Odinga-opposed figures such as Gideon Moi in earlier coalition negotiations. Prominent officers have been drawn from former parties like TNA and URP, and figures such as Eugene Wamalwa, Njuki Nderitu, Khalwale Boni and Anne Waiguru have held organizational roles. The party's whip system coordinated with members of the National Assembly of Kenya and the Cabinet of Kenya, interfacing with parliamentary groups such as the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader. Internal elections and nominations occasionally invoked the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal and oversight by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties.
Jubilee presented a big-tent platform emphasizing infrastructure projects like the Standard Gauge Railway, social programs akin to Kazi Mtaani, and commitments to the Vision 2030 agenda. Economic initiatives cited partnerships with entities such as China Road and Bridge Corporation and policies informed by the Central Bank of Kenya's macroeconomic stance. The party articulated stances on devolution interacting with the Constitution of Kenya (2010), and positions on land reforms related to the Land and Environment Court. Jubilee's platform addressed security concerns in reference to operations against insurgents in Lamu, Garissa, and responses to incidents like the Westgate shopping mall attack and the Garissa University College attack.
In the 2017 general election Jubilee won the presidency and significant numbers of seats in the National Assembly of Kenya and the Senate of Kenya, outperforming opponents including Orange Democratic Movement, Wiper Democratic Movement, and Amani National Congress. Subsequent by-elections, the 2018 repeat polls in select wards, and the 2022 general election reflected shifts as many members joined Kenya Kwanza or Azimio la Umoja alliances. Jubilee's performance in county assemblies in regions such as Kiambu County, Machakos County, Meru County, and Baringo County showed both strongholds and losses. The party also contested elections for the East African Legislative Assembly and participated in local contests under the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission framework.
Jubilee was involved in controversies including allegations of vote irregularities that led to petitions at the Supreme Court of Kenya and cases involving the Director of Public Prosecutions and the Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission. Disputes over party nominations prompted interventions by the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal and court rulings referencing the Judiciary of Kenya. Financial transparency issues were raised in parliamentary debates involving the Parliamentary Service Commission and audits linked to projects like the Standard Gauge Railway. High-profile defections to United Democratic Alliance and disputes with William Ruto involved legal maneuvers under the Political Parties Act and challenges before the High Court of Kenya.
Jubilee engaged with regional bodies such as the East African Community and international partners including delegations from China, the United Kingdom, the United States, and agencies like the World Bank and the International Monetary Fund. The party's infrastructure diplomacy intersected with agreements with corporations like China Communications Construction Company and countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative. Jubilee officials participated in meetings of the Inter-Parliamentary Union and bilateral talks with leaders from Uganda, Tanzania, Ethiopia, and Rwanda on trade corridors and security cooperation against groups linked to Al-Shabaab.
Notable Jubilee figures included national leaders such as Uhuru Kenyatta, William Ruto (before his distancing and later alignment with United Democratic Alliance), Cabinet ministers like Henry Rotich, Aden Duale, Khalwale Boni, governors such as Ann Waiguru, Ali Hassan Joho, Philip Ruto and senior MPs including Justin Muturi, Joseph Nkaissery, Julius Melly and Rachael Nyamai. Defections saw politicians join Kenya Kwanza, Azimio la Umoja, Ford–Kenya, Wiper Democratic Movement–Kenya, and Amani National Congress, altering the party's parliamentary arithmetic and prompting realignments across the National Assembly of Kenya, County Assemblies, and party primaries.
Category:Political parties in Kenya