Uhuru Kenyatta to Hand Over Jubilee Leadership After Court Ruling

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has accepted a High Court ruling barring retired heads of state from holding political party leadership positions more than six months after leaving office.

Uhuru said he respected the decision by Justice Lawrence Mugambi, delivered on 14 September, describing it as an affirmation of Kenya’s democratic institutions rather than a restriction on his political rights. In a statement issued on 15 September, his office said the ruling reinforced the principle that leadership should be based on trust rather than titles.

The decision paves the way for a transition within the Jubilee Party, which Uhuru has chaired since leaving office in 2022. He said delays in handing over the chairmanship were not caused by personal reluctance but by disputes within the party that required legal clarification.

Uhuru said he would oversee an orderly and transparent transition in accordance with the party’s constitution now that the court had provided clarity on the matter.
Justice Mugambi upheld Section 6 of the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act, which was introduced in 2003 to limit the political influence of former presidents after leaving office.

The judge rejected arguments that the provision violates fundamental rights, saying retired presidents hold a unique position of influence that could affect political competition if they continued to occupy formal party leadership positions. However, the ruling does not prevent former presidents from joining political parties or taking part in political activities. It only restricts them from holding formal leadership positions after the specified period.

The judgment has implications for Jubilee as the party addresses its succession and internal organisational disputes. Deputy Party Leaders Fred Matiang’i and Jeremiah Kioni are among those expected to take on greater responsibilities. Kioni, who is also the party’s Secretary-General, has played a prominent role in its organisational affairs.

The ruling comes amid wider debate over the role of retired presidents in Kenya’s political life. Government-aligned figures have accused Kenyatta of remaining too involved in partisan politics, with some calling for a review of his retirement benefits. Uhuru has rejected those claims and maintained that he has the right to participate in national affairs while observing the limits imposed by law.