Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta has expressed his willingness to hand over the leadership of the Jubilee Party following a High Court ruling upholding a law that limits former presidents from holding leadership positions in political parties beyond six months after leaving office.
The ruling could pave the way for an end to the prolonged leadership dispute within Jubilee, with Uhuru saying he is prepared to ensure the transition is carried out in accordance with the law and the party’s constitution.
In a statement through his office, Uhuru welcomed the ruling with respect and indicated that he would not oppose its implementation.
Kanze Dena, spokesperson for the Office of the Fourth President, said the decision should not be interpreted as an end to Uhuru’s involvement in Kenyan politics.
“The court’s ruling is not a restriction on his political life; it is a reaffirmation of our democratic maturity,” Dena said.
The statement draws a distinction between holding a formal party leadership position and participating in political activities. The court clarified that the law does not prevent a retired president from being a member of a political party or taking part in political activities.
Justice Lawrence Mugambi ruled that Section 6(1) of the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act restricts a retired president from continuing to hold a leadership position in a political party beyond six months after leaving office.
“What is restricted is taking up a leadership role in the political party for more than six months after retiring,” Justice Mugambi said.
The ruling therefore does not bar Uhuru from remaining active in national politics, even if he is required to relinquish his formal leadership position within Jubilee.
The party’s leadership dispute dates back to Uhuru’s departure from the presidency in 2022. In 2023, a faction within Jubilee declared his position vacant and installed Sabina Chege as acting party leader, triggering a dispute over who had the authority to convene party meetings, make leadership changes and communicate with the Registrar of Political Parties.
Uhuru later regained the Jubilee leadership in 2025 after a court overturned resolutions that had installed the Chege-led faction.
The latest ruling now provides a fresh legal basis for addressing the leadership question, with Jubilee expected to begin the process of transitioning to new leadership.
For the party, the immediate challenge will be to ensure that the handover does not trigger another round of internal divisions or disrupt its operations.
Uhuru, however, is expected to remain influential in national politics through his position as Chairperson of the Azimio la Umoja–One Kenya Coalition Council.
The court noted that retired presidents occupy a unique position because of the authority and political influence associated with their former office. Justice Mugambi observed that the law was enacted following the long presidency of former President Daniel arap Moi, partly to prevent former leaders from continuing to exercise political power through their allies.
Uhuru’s office also maintained that the delay in the handover had not been caused by an unwillingness to relinquish leadership, but by an internal dispute that required legal clarification.
“With the court’s guidance, that path is now clear,” his office said.
The former President has further affirmed his willingness to see the transition completed openly, lawfully and in accordance with the Jubilee Party constitution.
His office said his “absolute willingness” to facilitate the handover reflected his commitment to the rule of law and the party’s governing framework.
The ruling does not mark the end of Uhuru’s political career. Instead, it draws a line between his continued participation in national politics and his ability to hold a formal leadership position within a political party.
Attention now shifts to Jubilee and the question of who will take over the party leadership, as the party seeks to turn the latest court decision into a new chapter after years of internal leadership disputes.
