Jubilee Party Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni has publicly questioned the party’s continued role in the opposition’s Azimio/Ukombozi arrangement, arguing that the formation no longer serves the interests of its affiliate parties and should give way to a broader, more equitable coalition.
Kioni Questions Jubilee’s Role in Azimio/Ukombozi Alliance
In remarks made on Thursday, October 8, 2026, Kioni said he sees little clarity in Jubilee’s position within the rebranded alliance.
“I really don’t understand what we are doing as Jubilee in this whole Azimio/Ukombozi arrangement,” he stated.
“At this point, I believe we should be thinking beyond the old formations and working towards a new, genuinely inclusive coalition that brings everyone on board and gives every voice a place at the table.”
Uhuru Kenyatta Resigns as Coalition Council Chairperson
His comments came a day after former President Uhuru Kenyatta formally resigned as chairperson of the coalition council.
In a letter dated October 5 and addressed to Wiper leader and Ukombozi Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, Kenyatta stepped down with immediate effect.
The resignation followed the handover of Jubilee Party leadership to former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i in late September, a move shaped in part by court rulings limiting the formal party roles retired presidents may hold.
Kenyatta has indicated he remains a member of the broader formation and is available to offer counsel, but he no longer occupies the council chair.
Azimio Rebrands as Ukombozi Alliance Ahead of 2027 Elections
The Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Coalition rebranded as the Ukombozi Alliance (also referred to as The Ukombozi Alliance or TUA) on September 21, 2026.
Kalonzo Musyoka announced the change, saying the coalition’s leadership had unanimously adopted the new name and the guiding philosophy of “One Term, One Team, One Coalition.”
The alliance, which includes Wiper and Jubilee among its associated parties, is positioning itself to field a single presidential candidate against President William Ruto in the 2027 General Election.
It has been courting additional opposition outfits, including the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) and the Linda Mwananchi Movement, while completing registration formalities with the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties.
Ukombozi Alliance Leadership Structure
Under the current structure, Kalonzo serves as party leader, Martha Karua of the People’s Liberation Party as deputy, and Suba South MP Caroli Omondi as secretary-general.
The expanded council has included figures such as Matiang’i, Party of National Unity leader Peter Munya, and others.
Reports have also indicated that names such as former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and Siaya Governor James Orengo have been floated in discussions about filling the council chair role vacated by Kenyatta.
Kioni Raises Concerns Over Coalition Power Sharing
Kioni’s intervention highlights internal unease about whether the rebranded alliance has truly moved past the power dynamics of the 2022 Azimio formation.
He described the present arrangement as an old structure that does not afford constituent parties a meaningful seat in decision-making, and he urged Jubilee to look beyond it.
The call comes at a moment when Jubilee itself is under new leadership following Matiang’i’s takeover, and when opposition parties are still negotiating how identities, influence, and candidate selection will be shared ahead of 2027.
Uncertainty Over Jubilee’s Future in Ukombozi Alliance
Whether Kioni’s appeal gains traction inside Jubilee or prompts wider realignment remains open.
Kalonzo has maintained that Uhuru’s departure from the council chair creates no vacuum and that the alliance’s direction is unchanged.
For now, the public exchange underscores the unfinished business of opposition consolidation: the gap between a rebranded banner and a coalition in which every partner believes it has a genuine place at the table.