Matiang’i Says Jubilee Officials Who Joined DCP Were Suspended Months Earlier

Matiang’i Says Jubilee Officials Who Joined DCP Were Suspended Months Earlier

Jubilee Party has dismissed claims that its political influence is weakening after a group of officials and leaders in Nairobi announced their departure and joined former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP).

Jubilee Deputy Party Leader Fred Matiang’i said the departures should not be interpreted as evidence of a collapse within the party. He argued that several of the individuals involved had already been suspended months before their decision to leave.

In a statement issued on August 26 and seen on August 27, Matiang’i said the suspensions followed concerns over the conduct and management of party affairs.

“Yesterday’s developments in Nairobi, including the announcement by some individuals of their departure from Jubilee Party, should be understood in their proper political context.”

Matiang’i said the party had taken disciplinary action against the officials after they allegedly interfered with established structures and internal processes.

“These individuals were suspended by the Party several months ago following serious concerns regarding misconduct, mismanagement of party affairs and persistent interference with established party structures and processes.”

The Jubilee official also claimed that some of the suspended members had been accused of soliciting money from political aspirants.

He said such conduct was inconsistent with the party’s values and required disciplinary action to protect Jubilee members and its political structures.

According to Matiang’i, the disciplinary measures were not politically motivated but were intended to maintain accountability within the party.

He further argued that holding a Jubilee ticket comes with responsibilities that extend beyond individual political ambitions.

The statement followed a major political development in Nairobi on Tuesday, August 25, when Kamukunji MP Yusuf Hassan announced his departure from Jubilee and joined Gachagua’s DCP.

Hassan was accompanied by several Nairobi political figures, including grassroots officials drawn from different constituencies.

The move gave Gachagua an opportunity to strengthen his party’s presence in the capital ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Gachagua subsequently announced plans for DCP to field candidates across all 17 Nairobi constituencies as he seeks to build a stronger political base ahead of the polls.

Embakasi West MP Mark Mwenje was also among politicians associated with the latest political realignment.

The developments have generated debate over the future of Jubilee Party, which has been working to rebuild its structures after losing several prominent political figures over recent years.

Matiang’i, however, maintained that the latest departures should be viewed within the context of the party’s previous disciplinary decisions.

He argued that some of the politicians who announced their exit had already distanced themselves from Jubilee’s structures before making their departures public.

“What has been presented by some as a sudden ‘defection’ is, in many cases, simply the formalisation of political positions that have been evident for some time.”

The statement is likely to shape the growing political debate ahead of the 2027 elections, as parties seek to strengthen their grassroots networks and attract influential politicians.

For Jubilee, the Nairobi developments come at a critical time as the party attempts to consolidate its support and rebuild from the ward level.

For DCP, the entry of elected leaders and grassroots officials provides an opportunity to expand its organisation in Nairobi, a key political battleground.

The latest movement also highlights the wider realignment of Kenya’s political landscape ahead of 2027, with parties and political leaders positioning themselves for new alliances and possible coalition arrangements.

Jubilee has now sought to reassure its supporters that the departures will not derail its plans, while Gachagua’s party continues efforts to establish a stronger presence in Nairobi and other parts of the country.

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Matiang’i Says Jubilee Officials Who Joined DCP Were Suspended Months Earlier