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While convening a special conference of national delegates as part of a major political comeback plan, former President Uhuru Kenyatta controversially fired senior Jubilee officials believed to be close to President William Ruto using undated “secret” letters of resignation.
It comes ahead of new pledges to resume protests from Azimio la Umoja party leader Raila Odinga, whose coalition claims Jubilee membership has not changed.
Jubilee President Nelson Dzuya and Executive Director Wambui Gichuru were allegedly removed by Mr Kenyatta using undated letters of resignation they had apparently signed when they were appointed, in an escalation of the disputes plaguing the former ruling party.
The decision was taken during a meeting of the National Executive Council (NEC) held on Friday as the former president seeks to regain control of the former ruling group. The banishment of the two is seen as an essential step in beginning a purge of perceived rebels.
Key officials are aligned with the faction led by Kanene Keiga, which has declared that the party is working with President Ruto and his Kenyan Kwanzaa administration.
Mr Kenyatta has been largely out of touch — leaving factions led by Mr Jeremiah Kiyone and Mr Kega each claiming to be general secretary to battle him — until last Wednesday when he showed up at the party’s offices in Kileshwa in Nairobi to announce it would not allow a takeover.
Jubilee Party Deputy Chairman David Murathi revealed that all senior party officials signed the undated letters of resignation when appointed and were told that the party leader could act on them whenever necessary.
He said the agreement stipulated that Mr Kenyatta only needed to date the letters to make the resignations effective.
According to reports, Mr. Murad was selected by the National Election Commission meeting to lead the party until May 22, when the National Dialogue Conference will be held. The Ruto faction opposes both meetings.
Yesterday, Mr Kenyatta gave members of his own NDC party 21 days’ notice. The agenda for the meeting includes receiving a status update from the NEC as well as reviewing, drafting and approving the policies of the Jubilee Party.
“In those high offices, when you sign an appointment letter, you also sign an undated letter of resignation. This is normal practice even in government. All those people who have served as Cabinet Secretaries and Principal Secretaries have signed their letters of resignation,” said Mr. Marathi.
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