Former Nyeri Town MP Hon. Ngunjiri Wambugu has moved to the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal (PPDT) in a high-stakes legal battle challenging leadership changes within the Jubilee Party, the role of the Registrar of Political Parties, and the legality of appointments made under a contested process.
The dispute centers on a series of leadership changes announced within the party in 2026, which Wambugu claims were conducted without full compliance with the Jubilee Party Constitution and the Political Parties Act. He argues that key appointments were made without transparency, proper member participation, and verification of constitutional qualifications.
At the heart of the case is Wambugu’s claim that he repeatedly requested critical information from both the Jubilee Party and the Registrar of Political Parties, including membership records, appointment resolutions, and the eligibility of newly appointed officials. According to him, these requests were not answered, limiting his ability as a party member to verify whether the changes were lawful.
The dispute escalated after Gazette Notice No. 5749 proposed sweeping changes to the party’s leadership structure, including appointments to senior positions such as Deputy Party Leaders, Secretary General, and Executive Director. Wambugu formally objected to these changes, arguing that they were irregular and violated internal party rules.
He further claims that the Internal Dispute Resolution Mechanism (IDRM) established by the party failed to address his concerns effectively. Wambugu argues that the process lacked independence, involved individuals whose appointments were being challenged, and did not provide him with the documents or clarity he had requested.
Another major issue raised in the case is the allegation that some officials began acting in their new roles before the legal registration process was completed. Wambugu argues that this undermines Section 20 of the Political Parties Act, which governs how parties must formalize leadership changes.
He also accuses the Jubilee Party of misinforming the Registrar of Political Parties that the dispute had been resolved, despite his objection never being withdrawn or settled. The Registrar is also accused of proceeding with recognition of the changes without adequately verifying compliance or confirming resolution of the dispute.
Wambugu has now asked the PPDT to nullify the appointments, compel disclosure of party records, and declare the process unlawful. The case is being viewed as a major test of internal party democracy, transparency, and enforcement of political party regulations in Kenya, particularly on whether party members can effectively challenge leadership decisions within their parties.
