The Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) has nullified the appointment of Moitalel Ole Kenta as Secretary-General of the Jubilee Party. The decision comes amid an ongoing dispute over changes to the party’s leadership and the officials recognised by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP). The leadership changes had been challenged by former Nyeri Town Member of Parliament Ngunjiri Wambugu, who argued that the process was approved before his objections were properly addressed.In a post on Friday, September 11, Wambugu disclosed that the tribunal found that Kenta was not a registered member of Jubilee when the party appointed him to the position. “Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) nullifies appointment of Hon Koitalel Ole Kenta as Jubilee Party Secretary General for not being registered party member. Faults Office of Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) for failure to play oversight role on this,” he wrote.Kenta had been appointed Secretary-General in January, replacing former MP Jeremiah Kioni, who moved to the position of Second Deputy Party Leader. Jubilee said at the time that the appointment was part of efforts to rebuild its grassroots structures and prepare for future elections. Wambugu moved to the tribunal after the Registrar approved new officials in May, saying he had been invited to discuss his concerns with Jubilee officials but was not given a chance to respond before the changes were approved. The dispute involved several senior Jubilee figures, including National Party Chairperson Vincent Kemosi, Deputy Party Leader Fred Matiang’i, Deputy Secretary General Zack Kinuthia, Jubilee National Organising Secretary Yasir Noor, Kioni and Kenta.The tribunal had certified Wambugu’s case as urgent and directed the respondents to respond before the matter proceeded to hearing. The latest ruling now invalidates Kenta’s appointment and could require the party to revisit the position, adding another setback to Jubilee’s mobilisation efforts ahead of the 2027 General Elections.It comes just over two weeks after Jubilee faced a wave of defections in Nairobi, with several officials leaving the party for the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP). Soon after, Matiang’i dismissed the defections as a sign of the party’s decline, saying those who left had been suspended months earlier over misconduct and interference with party affairs.
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