After a long period of silence, former President Uhuru Kenyatta is expected to make a highly anticipated political return at the Jubilee Party’s Special National Delegates Conference (NDC), scheduled for Friday, 26 September.
The meeting has been described by analysts as a turning point, with some referring to it as “Uhuru clearing his throat” – a sign of a possible fresh chapter in opposition politics and a reminder of his lingering influence.
Jubilee Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni confirmed that Kenyatta will address delegates, outlining the party’s direction ahead of the 2027 general elections. “Our party leader will speak to us. He has not spoken for a long time because we were busy in court saving the party from being stolen.
Now we want him to tell us how he wants us to run this party going into 2027,” said Kioni.
Kenyatta’s return has ignited debate across the political divide, with supporters insisting he still commands a strong base, particularly in the Mount Kenya region, while critics question whether his influence has waned since leaving office in 2022.
The NDC is expected to affirm Jubilee’s position in the opposition, as well as open its doors to new candidates seeking to contest on the party’s ticket in 2027. Kioni stressed, “We want to assure our supporters that we have been campaigning, saying ‘Ruto must go.’
We were also fighting in court to make sure the party was not stolen. Those battles are now behind us.”
Speculation is rife that Kenyatta could use the gathering to hand over Jubilee’s leadership mantle to former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, positioning him as the party’s potential presidential candidate.
While Matiang’i has not declared his party of choice, he has acknowledged Jubilee’s role in his career and has been working closely with other opposition leaders, including Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua, Rigathi Gachagua, Justin Muturi, and Eugene Wamalwa.
Political observers say a reinvigorated Jubilee under Kenyatta could reshape the opposition landscape. Dorothy Nerima, a political analyst, noted: “First, Uhuru must clarify if he is returning as an advisor or guardian of the party.
Second, Jubilee must resolve its internal divisions between loyalists and those aligned with the current administration. Without this, rebuilding influence in regions where the party has weakened will be difficult.”
Whether Kenyatta’s comeback cements him as a central opposition figure or marks the rise of new leadership, Friday’s NDC is set to be a defining moment in Kenya’s political journey towards 2027.
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