Uhuru Suffers Another Obstacle as Registrar Rejects Expulsion of Sabina, Kega

Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta has encountered an obstacle in his effort to reestablish his dominance over the Jubilee Party after the Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu refused to oust dissident MPs citing missing documents. 

The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) requires a roster of delegates who participated in the Special National Delegates Convention (NDC) before it can validate the decisions made. This implies that evicting party insurgents, including nominated MP Sabina Chege, East African Legislative Assembly (Eala) MP Kanini Kega and National chairman Nelson Dzuya cannot be effected.

The NDC’s newly chosen officials can’t take up their posts until they have provided the needed paperwork. The assembly of delegates at the NDC endorsed former Planning Principal Secretary Saitoti Torome to replace Mr Dzuya as national chairman and also removed Jimmy Angwenyi, Naomi Shaban, Joshua Kutuny, Mutava Musyimi and Rachel Nyamai from their positions as party members.

“Following a review of the submitted documents, this office is unable to address the substance of the resolution for non-submission of requisite documents…,” said Ms Nderitu in a letter dated May 29 

The ORPP has asked for a full version of the NDC meeting minutes to figure out the method and process of voting since only a summary was provided. They need these documents to verify if Mr Kenyatta properly called for the May 22 NDC session, if transferring the venue from Bomas of Kenya to Ngong Racecourse followed regulations, and whether any resolutions reached meet the standards.

The embattled Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni quickly retaliated against Ms Nderitu, accusing her of aiding the rebels by obstructing the execution of decisions. He expressed his disbelief at ORPP’s request for a list of delegates for the first time. He said the party will avail the list to make sure that the delegates’ resolutions are implemented. Ms Nderitu rebuffed these claims, pointing out that all political parties are regulated by the same law.