Kioni Admits Disappointment After Losing Jubilee Top Seat

Jubilee Party Deputy Leader Jeremiah Kioni has acknowledged that he was disappointed after failing to secure the party’s top leadership position, but said his bid should not be seen as a source of division.

Kioni said he had genuinely hoped to lead the party and found the outcome difficult to accept. He nevertheless maintained that competing for a leadership position was a normal part of political life and should not be treated as a cause for conflict.

The former Ndaragwa MP said his decision to seek the position faced resistance from some quarters within the party. He indicated that some of the opposition came from people whose reaction surprised him, but defended his decision to pursue the leadership as a legitimate political ambition.

Kioni said his disappointment was a natural response to an ambition that did not materialise. He, however, rejected suggestions that the outcome had created a personal feud within Jubilee and insisted that he remained committed to the party.

He also pointed to his previous support for former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, saying he had spoken positively about Matiang’i’s political potential before the former Cabinet secretary became central to Jubilee’s current leadership plans. Matiang’i recently took over the leadership of Jubilee following a handover by former President Uhuru Kenyatta, marking a new phase for the former ruling party as it prepares for the 2027 General Election.

Kioni also raised concerns about the direction Jubilee has taken in recent years. He argued that the party’s decision to align itself with the United Opposition changed its political trajectory and contributed to uncertainty about its identity.

The comments come as Jubilee seeks to rebuild its political influence after years of shifting alliances and declining electoral strength.