By Francis Orina
Jubilee Party grassroots leaders in Nyamira County have invoked the 2002 General Election as they prepare for the party’s National Delegates Conference (NDC) scheduled for later this month.
Speaking at the party’s county offices in Nyamira town, the leaders, led by county chairperson Janet Komenda, said they were laying strategies to strengthen the party’s support ahead of the 2027 elections.
Also Read
They expressed confidence that Jubilee could win elective seats across the region, drawing parallels with the 2002 elections, when former Ford People presidential candidate Simeon Nyachae attracted significant support in the larger Gusii region.
“As a party, we have put strategies in place to make sure that Jubilee is the most preferred party in our region and the country at large. We have embarked on membership recruitment so that we can exceed seven million party members,” Komenda said.
North Mugirango constituency chairman Isaac Atebe said the grassroots leaders were looking forward to the NDC endorsing Dr Fred Matiang’i as the party leader and its presidential candidate for the 2027 General Election.
Atebe also welcomed aspirants from the region to join Jubilee and seek various elective positions under the party.
The North Mugirango parliamentary aspirant criticised President William Ruto over remarks he reportedly made at a recent rally in his political stronghold, in which he said former President Uhuru Kenyatta should have supported his leadership.
Atebe said Kenyatta was not seeking the presidency in 2027 and argued that Matiang’i should be the focus of the political contest.
“We are shocked by the utterances made by President William Ruto towards our former President Uhuru Kenyatta, who, at a recent rally in his home turf, was told he should have supported his leadership,” he said.
“To our knowledge, Uhuru is not running for the presidency. His competitor is Fred Matiang’i, and he should be ready to be edged out and surrender the leadership to him.”
2002 election
In the 2002 General Election, Nyachae ran for president on a Ford People ticket, finishing third nationally. His party also secured 14 seats in the National Assembly, establishing a significant political presence in the Gusii region, which comprises Kisii and Nyamira counties.
The Jubilee leaders are hoping to draw on that historical support as they mobilise members and prepare for the 2027 elections.
However, Matiang’i’s anticipated endorsement as the party’s presidential candidate remains subject to the outcome of the National Delegates Conference.
