Former Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu has formally entered the Jubilee Party leadership contest, declaring his intention to vie for the position of National Chairperson at the party’s forthcoming National Delegates Convention (NDC).
In a letter dated September 26 and addressed to Acting Party Leader Fred Matiang’i, Wambugu said he was giving formal notice of his candidature to the party leadership, organs and membership.
Wambugu also asked the party to provide clarity on the composition of the NDC electorate, including the Ward delegates, delegate register, nomination and election rules, timelines and procedures governing the contest.
He said the information was necessary to allow prospective candidates to prepare adequately and participate in what he described as a fair, transparent and constitutionally compliant process.
The declaration opens a new contest within Jubilee at a time when the party is already navigating a leadership transition following Uhuru Kenyatta’s decision to hand over the party leadership to Matiang’i pending the NDC.
Wambugu has been among the most vocal advocates for an NDC to determine Jubilee’s leadership, repeatedly insisting that the party should not use shortcuts in deciding its succession.
His latest move is significant because it separates the party chairperson contest from the wider battle for party leader, which has so far centred largely on Matiang’i and Deputy Party Leader Jeremiah Kioni.
Wambugu had previously said he preferred Kioni for the party leadership position, while describing Matiang’i as his preferred presidential candidate.
The former MP has also been involved in recent legal disputes over Jubilee’s internal leadership arrangements. A Political Parties Disputes Tribunal ruling following his challenge nullified the appointment of Koitalel Ole Kenta as Secretary-General and ordered a fresh process if the party wished to fill the position.
In his latest statement, however, Wambugu framed his candidature around the integrity of the party’s internal electoral process, saying the NDC provides Jubilee with an opportunity to demonstrate its commitment to internal democracy, transparency, fairness and constitutionalism.
