Jubilee Party
{{Short description|Nationalist political party in Kenya}}
{{Use British English|date=August 2017}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2017}}
{{Infobox political party
| name = Jubilee Party of Kenya
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| lang1 = p
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| logo = Logo for the Kenyan polticial party Jubilee, taken from its official website jubileeparty.ke.svg
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| colorcode = {{party color|Jubilee Party}}
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| leader = Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta
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| first_secretary =
| secretary_general = Jeremiah Ngayu Kioni
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| leader1_title = Deputy leaders
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| founded = {{start date|df=y|2016|09|07}}
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| merger = see below
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| headquarters = State House Road Nairobi{{cite web |last1=Tongola |first1=Mate |title=Jubilee Party changes headquarters from Pangani to Kileleshwa |url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001466327/jubilee-party-changes-headquarters |website=The Standard |access-date=2 May 2023}}
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| ideology = Conservatism
Economic liberalism
| position = {{nowrap|Centre-right{{Cite journal |last1=Kim |first1=Eun Kyung |last2=Kim |first2=Hye-Sung |date=2021-08-24 |title=The Winning Party Platform: Voter Perceptions of Party Positions and Voting in Urban Africa |url=http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/00020397211030934 |journal=Africa Spectrum |language=en |volume=56 |issue=2 |pages=172–193 |doi=10.1177/00020397211030934 |s2cid=237295862 |issn=0002-0397|doi-access=free }} to right-wing{{cite news |last=Gaitho |first=Macharia |date=18 August 2019 |title=All you need to know about the clash between Kenyatta and Ruto |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/clash-kenyatta-ruto-190815111239221.html |work=Al Jazeera}}}}
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| european = European Conservatives and Reformists Party (regional partner until 2022)
| seats1_title = National Assembly
| seats1 = {{Composition bar|29|349|hex={{party color|Jubilee Party}}}}
| seats2_title = Senate
| seats2 = {{Composition bar|3|67|hex={{party color|Jubilee Party}}}}
| seats3_title = Governors
| seats3 = {{Composition bar|1|47|hex={{party color|Jubilee Party}}}}
| colours = {{color box|{{party color|Jubilee Party}}|border=darkgray}} Red
| slogan = Mbele Pamoja ("Forward Together")
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| website = {{URL| https://jubileeparty.ke/}}
| country = Kenya
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The Jubilee Party of Kenya is a major political party in Kenya. It has significantly influenced the country's political landscape since its founding on 8 September 2016. Emerging from a merger of 11 smaller parties, including The National Alliance (TNA) led by then-President Uhuru Kenyatta and the United Republican Party (URP) led by then-Deputy President William Ruto, Jubilee quickly became the ruling party. It secured a strong plurality in Parliament during the 2017 elections, cementing its dominance as Uhuru Kenyatta won re-election as president.
However, internal divisions surfaced soon after the 2017 election. President Kenyatta criticized Deputy President Ruto for "kutangatanga" (loitering around), accusing him of prioritizing political campaigns over his responsibilities. These tensions escalated over time, culminating in Ruto's departure from Jubilee in 2022 to join the United Democratic Alliance (UDA). He used UDA as his political platform, successfully winning the presidency in the August 2022 general elections.
President Kenyatta openly endorsed opposition leader Raila Odinga in the run-up to those elections forming the Azimio la Umoja Coalition between Jubilee and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM). This unusual alliance failed to secure victory, relegating Jubilee and Azimio to opposition status after UDA's triumph.
As of 2024, Jubilee remains deeply divided, with factions split between supporting the government and maintaining their opposition stance. These divisions reflect the party's broader challenges in redefining its identity and role in Kenya's evolving political landscape.
Rafael Tuju, former Member of Parliament for Rarieda Constituency was the party's first Secretary General.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nation.co.ke/news/Raphael-Tuju-to-head-Jubilee-Party-secretariat/1056-3441678-vuom9f/index.html|title=Raphael Tuju to head Jubilee Party secretariat|last=PSCU|date=5 November 2016|website=Daily Nation|access-date=15 March 2019}} The officials were named during the party's first National Governing Council (NGC) meeting held at the Bomas of Kenya Auditorium, in November 2016. Each of the political parties that merged had elected leaders at different levels of government, as follows:
| class="wikitable"
! !Governors !Senators !Women Reps. !MPs. |
| TNA
|8 |11 |14 |75 |
|---|
| APK
|1 |2 | |5 |
| URP
|10 |9 |10 |65 |
| GNU
|1 | | | |
| NFK
|1 | |2 |4 |
| Ford People
| | | |4 |
| UDF
|1 |2 | |12 |
| CCU
| | | |2 |
| Republican Congress
| | | | |
| JAP
| | | |1 |
| TIP
| | | |1 |
Membership
Membership of the party is acquired by application, recommendation, nomination and registration. On payment of the prescribed fee, a member is issued a membership number in digital form and a smart card. The card is proof of membership and contains the name, identity number and mobile phone number.{{Cite news|url=http://www.nation.co.ke/news/politics/Jubilee-to-launch-membership-cards-for-elections/1064-3509528-j8h04g/|title=Jubilee to introduce smart card for polls|access-date=2017-02-15|language=en-UK|newspaper=Daily Nation}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.the-star.co.ke/news/2017/01/13/how-jubilee-party-smart-card-will-work_c1487044|title=How Jubilee Party smart card will work|access-date=2017-02-15|language=en|newspaper=The Star, Kenya}} While the card was intended to prevent fraud during party primaries and nominations before the general election of 2017, those without the card were still able to vote in the primaries if they had a Kenyan identity card.{{Cite news|url=http://www.capitalfm.co.ke/news/2017/04/id-bearing-jubilee-party-members-eligible-vote-primaries/|title=All ID bearing Jubilee Party members eligible to vote in primaries » Capital News|date=2017-04-24|work=Capital News|access-date=2017-07-04|language=en-US}}
History
= Founding =
The Jubilee Party is considered to be the successor of the Jubilee Alliance. The Jubilee Alliance was a political alliance established in January 2013 to support Kenyatta's presidential campaign.{{Cite book|title=Political Handbook of the World 2018-2019|last=Lansford|first=Tom|publisher=CQ Press|year=2019|isbn=9781544327129}} Under President Uhuru Kenyatta, the Jubilee Alliance governed through a party coalition. However, the stability of this system was threatened by tribalism and disagreements between parties. In 2016, the Jubilee Alliance's leadership, including President Kenyatta, decided to transition from a coalition government to a single unified party, the Jubilee Party.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/kenya-jubilee-party-uniting-or-dividing-kenyans/a-19540503|title=Kenya: Jubilee Party, uniting or dividing Kenyans? {{!}} DW {{!}} 09.09.2016|website=DW.COM|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-05-13}} The new party was formed from the principal members of the Jubilee Alliance's previous coalition, as well as new political parties. These founding parties were:
- Jubilee Alliance Party (JAP)
- Alliance Party of Kenya (APK)
- United Republican Party (URP)
- Grand National Union (GNU)
- New FORD–Kenya (NFK)
- FORD People (FP)
- United Democratic Forum (UDF)
- Chama Cha Uzalendo (CCU)
- Republican Congress (RC)
- The National Alliance (TNA)[5]
- The Independence Party (TIP)
The party merger was made official on 7 September 2016, when all involved parties held their respective National delegates Conferences (NDC). The new political party was announced to the public at a ceremony held at the Safaricom Kasarani Stadium on 8 September 2016.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nation.co.ke/news/Forming-Jubilee-Party-is-the-best-decision/1056-3374404-35evow/index.html|title=New Jubilee Party born after 12 others allied to Uhuru close shop|date=9 September 2016|website=Daily Nation}}
= 2017 general election =
The Jubilee Party was one of the primary competitors during Kenya's 2017 general elections. The election was preceded by multiple acts of violence, challenging the lawfulness of the elections. Deputy President Ruto's house was attacked by a single intruder, who killed a guard in the process.{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/90bfe44c68804e32b725c664e90a1d71|title=Kenyan police: Man with machete attacks VP Ruto's home|last=Odula|first=Tom|date=2017-07-29|website=AP NEWS|access-date=2019-05-13}} In addition, Christopher Msando, a senior election official, was found murdered only a few days before voting began. His death raised concerns, both domestically and abroad, regarding the possibility of electoral fraud.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/07/31/world/africa/chris-musando-kenya-election-official-dead.html|title=Kenyan Election Official Is Killed on Eve of Vote|last=Freytas-Tamura|first=Kimiko de|date=2017-07-31|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-05-13|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}
After months of campaigning, elections were held on 8 August 2017. The Jubilee Party made significant gains in the 2017 General election, winning 140 of 290 parliamentary seats, 25 of 47 County women representatives seats, 24 of 47 senatorial seats,{{Cite news|url=https://africacheck.org/factsheets/factsheet-kenyas-new-parliament-numbers/|title=FACTSHEET: Kenya's new parliament by numbers {{!}} Africa Check|work=Africa Check|access-date=2017-09-25|language=en-GB}} and 25 of the 47 governors.{{Cite news|url=http://www.nation.co.ke/newsplex/jubileee-governor-races/2718262-4053204-d6l1vfz/index.html|title=Jubilee wins more than half governor races|work=Daily Nation|access-date=2017-09-25|language=en-UK}} The party's candidate and the incumbent president, Uhuru Kenyatta, won the election by a comfortable margin, receiving 8,223,369 which was 54.17% against ODM leader Raila Odinga who garnered 6,822,812 which translates to 44.94% of the total votes cast.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/africa/kenya-on-edge-as-citizens-await-the-results-of-a-heated-presidential-election/2017/08/11/a0594456-7e18-11e7-b2b1-aeba62854dfa_story.html|title=Incumbent President Uhuru Kenyatta declared winner of Kenyan presidential race|last=Sieff|first=Kevin|newspaper=Washington Post|language=en|access-date=2019-04-01}} However, the results of the first election were annulled by the Supreme Court of Kenya following a successful petition from the runner-up, Raila Odinga, who questioned the authenticity of the official vote.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-africa-41339140/kenya-court-explains-presidential-election-annulment|title=Kenya court explains poll annulment verdict|work=BBC News|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-04-01}} A second election was held on 26 October, which Odinga boycotted, citing his desire for electoral reform.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-41572128|title=Raila Odinga quits Kenya election re-run|date=2017-10-10|access-date=2019-04-02|language=en-GB}} Opposition protests in Nairobi, Kisumu and Mombasa were banned by the Jubilee Party in the weeks leading up to the second election.{{Cite web|url=https://apnews.com/e940502a473b4edfafd42faa71dc2f1d|title=Kenya bans opposition protests ahead of new election|last=Odula|first=Tom|date=2017-10-12|website=AP NEWS|access-date=2019-05-13}} With no formal opposition, the Jubilee ticket received a near unanimous percentage of the vote, ensuring Kenyatta's victory.{{Cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-kenya-election-idUSKBN1DK0KH|title=Kenya's Supreme Court upholds Kenyatta's presidential win|date=2017-11-20|work=Reuters|access-date=2019-04-02|language=en}}
Large protests broke out soon after the results of the second round of voting were announced. Protesters suggested that the original election had been rigged by the Jubilee Party, allegations which the government denied. These protests, while far more subdued than the crisis following the 2007 elections, resulted in the deaths of dozens of civilians. According to Amnesty International, at least 33 of these deaths were attributed to Kenyan police.{{Cite web|url=https://www.amnesty.org/en/latest/news/2017/10/kenya-police-killed-beat-post-election-protesters/|title=Kenya: Police killed, beat post-election protesters|website=www.amnesty.org|date=16 October 2017 |language=en|access-date=2019-05-13}}
= 2019 party infighting =
In January 2019, the Jubilee Party experienced a significant amount of political infighting, beginning when interim vice-chairman David Murathe resigned from the party.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nation.co.ke/news/politics/David-Murathe-resigns-from-Jubilee/1064-4923642-b14pyz/index.html|title=David Murathe resigns from Jubilee - Daily Nation|website=www.nation.co.ke|access-date=2019-04-01}} His resignation was a response to the 2022 Presidential election, which had been the primary focus of party debate. In particular, the Jubilee Party had been internally divided over its support of Deputy President Ruto as the official party candidate.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nation.co.ke/news/politics/Jubilee-at-a-crossroads/1064-4922890-10k2cnyz/index.html|title=Infighting threatens Jubilee Party's survival - Daily Nation|website=www.nation.co.ke|access-date=2019-04-01}} The struggle led to the politicization of government initiatives, resulting in delays in public infrastructure programs, such as dam construction, as well as anti-corruption efforts targeting Ruto.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-03-17/kenya-graft-probe-of-treasury-head-highlights-power-struggle|title=Kenya Graft Probe of Treasury Head Highlights Power Struggle|last1=Ombok|first1=Eric|last2=Herbling|first2=David|newspaper=Bloomberg|date=17 March 2019 }} Some experts expressed concerns that the growing schism within the party could reignite ethnic conflict within the Rift Valley region.{{Cite news|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-01-08/fracture-in-kenyan-ruling-party-may-revive-rift-valley-tensions|title=Schism in Kenya Ruling Party May Revive Rift Valley Tensions|last=Herbling|first=David|newspaper=Bloomberg|date=8 January 2019 |access-date=2019-04-02}}{{Cite news|url=https://www.ft.com/content/2cae7d0e-2eb2-11e9-8744-e7016697f225|title=Kenya succession battle sparks renewal of political infighting|last=Wilson|first=Tom|website=Financial Times|date=20 February 2019 |language=en-GB|access-date=2019-04-01}} Mass ethnic violence has occurred in the region previously, in the aftermath of the 2007 election results, during which 650 people were killed, and tens of thousands were internally displaced.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/27/world/africa/27kenya.html|title=Ethnic Violence in Rift Valley Is Tearing Kenya Apart|last=Gettleman|first=Jeffrey|date=2008-01-27|work=The New York Times|access-date=2019-04-02|language=en-US|issn=0362-4331}}
In the following months, the situation within the party worsened. In the aftermath of Murathe's resignation, Secretary-General Tuju announced an expansion in party offices and infrastructure, as well as promising to hold party meetings and elections. However, party leadership was either unable or unwilling to carry out these commitments.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nation.co.ke/news/politics/Crisis-in-Jubilee-Party-as-factions-pull-apart/1064-5067914-opwm8oz/index.html|title=Crisis in Jubilee as factions fight over leadership, 2022 polls - Daily Nation|website=www.nation.co.ke|access-date=2019-05-13}} As a result of infighting, the Jubilee's Party's position over the nation's politics weakened. The number of party applications skyrocketed, with over 30 parties forming since the 2017 election.{{Cite web|url=https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001322084/2022-over-30-new-parties-seek-registration|title=2022: Over 30 new parties seek registration|last=Otieno|first=Rawlings|website=The Standard|access-date=2019-05-13}}