The Jubilee Party has embarked on an aggressive grassroots mobilization strategy, reaffirming its commitment to the Azimio Coalition while setting sights on strengthening its internal structures ahead of the next general elections.
Speaking after a meeting with Jubilee leaders from various branches, party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni emphasized the party’s renewed focus on grassroots recruitment and infrastructure expansion. The party plans to open new offices across the country to reinforce its presence, with upcoming activities scheduled in Kajiado, Meru, Nyeri, and other counties.
“This is the first meeting of a section of our branches, and we will have more in the coming days,” Kioni stated. “We want to ensure our party’s structures are firmly in place as we move forward with recruitment and strengthening our grassroots networks.
Kioni reaffirmed Jubilee’s allegiance to the Azimio la Umoja coalition, dismissing speculation about a possible realignment. He reiterated that Azimio played a crucial role in shaping the National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) report, particularly in advocating for solutions to the high cost of living, an issue that remains a significant concern for Kenyans.
“The cost of living continues to be a major challenge. Government policies are failing, whether in healthcare, education, or security,” he said. He criticized the current government’s approach to education funding, noting that schools are receiving only Ksh 3,000 per student instead of the expected Ksh 12,000, which has created a crisis in school management.
Security concerns also took center stage in Kioni’s remarks. He raised alarms over potential voter manipulation through irregular vetting of individuals seeking national identification documents, cautioning against allowing non-citizens to influence future elections.
In a surprising development, Kioni revealed that a section of Jubilee leaders supports former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i as a potential presidential candidate for 2027. He, however, clarified that the party would participate in broader coalition discussions to settle on a single opposition candidate.
“We must have our own presidential candidate within the party, but that does not mean he will be the final candidate,” Kioni explained. “We will sit with others and decide on the best leader to take this country forward.”
Kioni hailed the recent Constitutional Court ruling that declared Azimio as the majority coalition in Parliament, a move he said affirmed the will of Kenyans as expressed in the 2022 elections.
“The courts have upheld the fact that Azimio, which includes ODM, Jubilee, Wiper, and other parties, is the majority coalition,” Kioni noted. “This should guide the allocation of parliamentary committee positions and other responsibilities within the National Assembly and Senate.”
He called on Azimio leader Raila Odinga to convene a meeting of coalition members to strategize on how to capitalize on this ruling for effective opposition leadership in Parliament.
The Jubilee Secretary General also criticized the Kenya Kwanza government’s handling of foreign policy, accusing it of making missteps that led to the failure of Raila Odinga’s bid for the African Union Commission (AUC) chairmanship.
“We need to ask ourselves, did our own government contribute to Baba’s failure? Some decisions made, such as hosting groups perceived to be against neighboring governments, may have cost us credibility at the continental level,” Kioni remarked.
He argued that Kenya’s past reputation as a respected regional leader has been compromised, with the country’s foreign policy now appearing inconsistent and mismanaged.
Kioni underscored the need for opposition unity ahead of the 2027 elections. He signaled Jubilee’s readiness to work with like-minded parties to counter the Kenya Kwanza administration.