Ex-MP Ngunjiri Wambugu Challenges Jubilee Party Leadership Changes in Court
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 former Interior Cabinet Secretary (CS) Dr Fred Matiang'i (Jubilee Deputy Party Leader), Jeremiah Kioni (Deputy Party Leader (Operations), ex-Mugirango West MP Vincent Mogaka Kemosi (National Chairman), Moitalel Ole Kenta (Secretary General), Zack Kinuthia (Deputy Secretary General), Yasir Noor, and Dann Mwangi.
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Wambugu, Jubilee Party wrongly informed the Registrar that the issues he had raised had been resolved, yet he had not withdrawn his objection or agreed to the process.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 maintains that unless the tribunal intervenes urgently, the implementation of the changes may substantially alter the management structure of the party and render the dispute ineffective.
He is seeking orders suspending, staying and halting the recognition and implementation of the disputed changes pending determination of the application.
"That pending the hearing and determination of the Complaint herein, this Honourable Tribunal be pleased to restrain the Respondents, whether jointly or severally, from implementing, operationalising, effecting, recognising, gazetting, validating, or in whatsoever giving effect to the impugned changes of officials in any manner proposed by Gazette Notice No. 5749 of the 1st Respondent (Jubilee Party)," the application states.
He argues that this could affect the party’s leadership and internal decision-making and make the case pointless.
He is also seeking to restrain the respondents from assuming office, acting, presenting themselves, or being recognised as duly elected or appointed officials of the Jubilee Party.
The case, filed under Sections 20 and 40 of the Political Parties Act and constitutional provisions on fair hearing and political rights, is set for directions on June 5, 2026.
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.