The Court of Appeal has dealt a blow to a faction of Jubilee Party officials seeking to challenge the leadership of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta. 

In a ruling delivered on November 19, 2024, the court declined to grant interim stay orders requested by Cherangany MP Joshua Kuttuny, East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP Kanini Kega, and the Party’s Disciplinary Committee.

The rebel group had sought the orders to counter a September ruling by the Nairobi High Court, which upheld Kenyatta’s leadership of the party. High Court Judge Justice Mulwa had nullified actions taken by the Kanini Kega faction, citing procedural irregularities.

Justice Mulwa had ruled that a notice issued in February 2023 by the Kega-led faction was improperly executed, rendering subsequent resolutions null and void. This included the suspension of senior party officials Jeremiah Kioni, David Murathe, and Kagwe Gichohi during a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting convened by the faction on February 10, 2023.

Additionally, the High Court overturned a previous ruling by the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal, which had validated the Registrar of Political Parties' decision to recognize changes made during the disputed NEC meeting.

In an attempt to overturn the High Court’s decision, Kuttuny and Kega moved to the Court of Appeal. However, their bid for interim relief pending a full hearing was rejected.

The appellate court, comprising Justices Jamila Mohammed, Mumbi Ngugi, and F. Ochieng, declined the request for stay orders, stating that a ruling on the matter would be delivered on March 7, 2025.

"In the circumstances of this application, we decline to grant interim orders of stay pending the delivery of the ruling on March 7, 2025,” the judges ruled.