By Olivia Mungwana.
President Uhuru Kenyatta was re-elected for a five-year term as leader of the Jubilee Party, but Deputy President William Ruto was expelled by the party’s National Delegates Conference (NDC).
The decision was announced on Saturday, February 26 at the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC) when Raila Odinga, the leader of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), and Kalonzo Musyoka, the leader of the Wiper party, accompanied Jubilee delegates.
During the current NDC, the delegates also decided to remove additional members who defected to competing parties from the party’s list of members.
Raphael Tuju also declared his retirement as Secretary-General of Jubilee during the session.
Despite hailing from Rarienda, the former Rarienda MP expressed gratitude for the President’s trust in him “Your main opponent’s house is four kilometers away.
“Thank you for standing with me even at a personal level when I had a horrific accident until now I am able to stand here, “Tuju remarked.
Tuju did not say what his future moves would be, but he did say that the President has given him new responsibilities in the days ahead.
Tuju was succeeded by Ndaragwa Member of Parliament Jeremiah Kioni, who had held the position since the party’s establishment in 2017.
Under the Azimio la Umoja alliance, which brings together more than 20 parties, Jubilee and ODM, both convening separate NDCs, have already approved Odinga as their favorite Presidential candidate.
