Jubilee Deputy Party Leader Jeremiah Kioni has advised former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua to refrain from belittling fellow opposition figures, warning that public infighting jeopardizes their collective mission to unseat President William Ruto in the 2027 polls.
Kioni’s remarks were a direct response to recent critiques made by Gachagua—the leader of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP)—against former Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i and other opposition representatives. Speaking to reporters on Wednesday, November 4, 2026, during the inauguration of a new Jubilee office in Mugutha, Juja (Kiambu County), Kioni emphasized the need for mutual courtesy and solidarity.
“No opposition leader is superior to the others; Kenyans are the ones who shall determine the outcome of the 2027 general elections. Let us respect one another and embrace unity in our endeavor to replace President Ruto’s administration,” Kioni remarked.
Indirectly addressing Gachagua’s pattern of confrontation, Kioni cautioned that arrogance and political brinkmanship are counterproductive. He urged leaders to set aside personal feuds and prioritize rallying behind a single consensus candidate to challenge the ruling administration.
“He started by branding me a red wheelbarrow and other unsavoury names. I don’t know if he is the manufacturer of wheelbarrows, and if that is the way he wants to see others, let him continue—but I must say it isn’t useful to keep on attacking others,” the former Ndaragwa Member of Parliament noted.
While Kioni reiterated his firm support for Matiang’i as Jubilee’s preferred presidential contender, he affirmed that the party would fully back whichever candidate the broader opposition coalition ultimately selects.
“The public bickering and unnecessary exchange of bitter words against each other can only undermine our unity of purpose and hand the opposition defeat at the forthcoming polls,” he stated.
Alongside his advice to Gachagua, Kioni defended the establishment of the Juja branch, explaining that expanding physical operations is critical to reviving Jubilee’s waning influence across the Mt. Kenya region.
However, the office opening sparked an internal dispute. Jubilee Secretary-General Moitalel ole Kenta released a formal notice on November 2, 2026, disowning the Juja location and warning members against transacting official business there.
“Any party member found operating or representing the said premises as an official Jubilee party office without authorization shall be subjected to appropriate disciplinary action in accordance with the party Constitution,” Kenta warned in the public statement.
Kioni brushed off Kenta’s warning as a minor distraction, stressing that restoring the strength of the party—originally established by Kenya’s fourth president, Uhuru Kenyatta—overrides bureaucratic disputes.
“Our members are worried about Jubilee’s performance in the Mountain region, and it is true our party’s popularity has gone down in Central Kenya. This is not the Jubilee we knew before,” Kioni admitted.
He further noted: “If we have to win seats in this region, we must do things differently, and that is why this office was established here. We know DCP is very happy to be the only party moving around in the area, but I want to caution them that it is too early to celebrate.”
Addressing electoral strategy, Kioni clarified that Jubilee will not agree to regional party zoning in Mt. Kenya—where Gachagua’s DCP currently enjoys strong support—assuring that Jubilee remains a viable platform for candidates who might face unfair nomination processes elsewhere.
