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He said Jubilee members should be given an opportunity to inspect and audit the party’s register to establish whether those participating in the NDC had been registered through a fair, open and verifiable process
His remarks came days after former President Uhuru Kenyatta handed over Jubilee’s leadership to Matiang’i during a meeting with party officials in Nairobi on September 22, ahead of the National Delegates Convention.
Speaking during a meeting with Jubilee officials in Nairobi on Tuesday, September 22, the former president said the transition would take effect as the party prepares for the NDC, which is expected to formalise the new leadership.
In a statement on Monday, Kioni described the decision as “a significant victory for democracy, constitutionalism and the Bill of Rights”, arguing that leaving office should not strip a former president of political rights.
Jubilee Party leaders from Nakuru, Nyandarua, Embu, Nyeri and Murang’a say divisions within the party are intensifying and accuse Deputy Party Leader Jeremiah Kioni and former MP Ngunjiri Wambugu of fuelling wrangles. The concerns follow a court ruling on who can run Jubilee’s party operations.
With Uhuru's exit now set to take place, Kioni has presented himself as a candidate for the position, insisting that Jubilee must follow its formal structures when choosing its next leader.
Kioni said the tradition of electing party leaders through the National Delegates Convention had been central to Jubilee’s operations since its formation and should guide the current transition.
According to Kioni, the former Prime Minister had privately told a group of political allies soon after the 2022 General Election that he was ready to end his active political career and wanted younger leaders to start looking for someone who could lead the next presidential campaign.
Speaking on Radio Generation on Monday, Kioni said political leaders should instead focus on presenting solutions to Kenyans and identifying the qualities they want in the country's next president rather than repeatedly invoking Uhuru's name whenever political negotiations stall.
Speaking on Radio Generation on Tuesday, Kioni argued that while the United Opposition had succeeded in mobilising public discontent against the government, it must now shift its focus to building an organised political movement capable of winning power and governing effectively.
Jubilee Deputy Party Leader Jeremiah Kioni urged rival political formations to unite, arguing that continued division could worsen youth frustration over jobs and inclusion. Speaking on Radio Generation, he linked stability to better economic outcomes ahead of 2027.
The Jubilee official argued that the so-called United Opposition does not have a formal written agreement outlining its principles, structure, and membership.