Jubilee Party Deputy Leader Jeremiah Kioni has spoken openly about the political direction he believes the party should take as opposition leaders continue discussions ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Kioni questioned Jubilee’s involvement in the wider Azimio and Ukombozi arrangement, saying he was struggling to understand the party’s position within the political alliance. His remarks come as opposition parties continue searching for a common strategy ahead of the next election.
“I really don’t understand what we are doing as Jubilee in this whole Azimio/Ukombozi arrangement,” Kioni said, raising questions about the party’s role in the emerging opposition framework.
His comments come at a time when Jubilee is undergoing significant changes following the transition from former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s leadership. Fred Matiang’i took over the party leadership in September, while Kioni has continued to maintain his interest in the position.
Kioni has now made it clear that his ambition to become Jubilee Party leader has not disappeared despite the recent changes. He said his candidature and desire to lead the party remain active, insisting that the matter should ultimately be determined through the party’s democratic structures.
“My candidature or my nomination, my desire to be a party leader, has not been withdrawn. And it is still alive,” Kioni said.
The former Ndaragwa MP has previously argued that Jubilee leaders should be elected through the National Delegates Convention rather than being installed through arrangements outside the party’s established processes.
Kioni has also expressed concerns about Jubilee’s political direction, saying the party lost its way after joining the United Opposition. He has called for greater clarity as opposition parties negotiate how they will approach the 2027 contest.
His latest remarks are likely to keep the debate over Jubilee’s future alive, particularly as opposition leaders weigh different alliances and possible presidential arrangements. Kioni’s continued push for an internal democratic process also places his own political ambitions firmly within the wider conversation about the party’s leadership and role in 2027.