A tussle has erupted in the control of People's Party of Kenya (PPK) as two(2) wings fight over it, the names of Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro and former Interior CS Fred Matiang'i said to be part of the conflict.

The party created a storm when National Democratic Youth Alliance Organising Secretary Simon Maina on March 2, 2025, while in Murang'a County, proposed that Mr Nyoro and Dr Matiang'i team up under it to gun for the presidency in 2027.

Though the two are yet to pronounce themselves on the matter, the debate is still raging, the takeover storm defining the high stakes politics riding in it.

The dispute is resultant to a gazette notice number 92 of March 3, 2025, by the Office of Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) announcing intention of change of party officials.

"Any person with written submissions concerning the intended change by the political party shall within seven(7) days from the date of this publication, deposit them with the RPP," the gazette notice reads in part.

The invited views were for the proposal that national chairman change from Jacob Wangai to Mark Odhiambo, the National Vice Chairman slot change to Moses Lotulia to Kenneth Maina.

It is further proposed that the Secretary General be Mr John Chere from John Karia while that of Assistant Secretary General be Ms Lilian Chepkorir from Ms Kalabhai Angelina.

The National Organising Secretary is proposed as Peter Biwott from Peter Ligale, Assistant National Organising Secretary change from Musau Ann Wanja to Jane Githigia Mumbi.

The National Treasurer slot has elicited a debate after the proposal is it goes to John Muchoki Mbuthia--from Kiharu constituency--from Mbugua Josphat Njagi.

Secretary for Legal Affairs is proposed to change from Kuria Sarah Muthoni to
Beth Wanjiku Wanyaga, Secretary for gender and human rights change from 
Ateya Bruno to Catherine Magiri Wangui.

The Party National Coordinator is proposed for Daniel Mwema Charles to
Nduuro Margaret Nyokabi while that of 
Assistant National Coordinator is scheduled for Pauline Nyambura Gachuhi from Kiptarus Reuben.

If the changes take effect, Party Youth Leader will be Silas Premadaza Olale from Kahihu Pauline Muthoni, Chairman National Election Board change from 
Moses Kiburi to Peter Thairu Mwangi and the Chairman of the Disciplinary Committee change from Somon Aden to
Ali Abdilahi Ali.

The proposals had been submitted for approval on December 18, 2024.

However Mr Charles Gatheru Mbuthia has challenged the changes, citing John Kihiko Kuria, Jacob Wangai Gitau and Josephat Njagi as respondents in that order.

The appellant introduces himself as a member number 406833 of the party, opposed to the recommended changes on grounds that it is being done clandestinely. 

"The proposed changes to various posts was shrouded in secrecy and malice as the same was neither put to vote nor communicated to the members of the party through the prescribed party mechanisms in contravention of the Party Constitution," he writes.

He adds that the changes are a violation of Article 38 (1) (a), (b) and 38 (2) (b) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010 as they are an affront to the the Appellant's legitimate and Constitutional rights of  exercising right to participate in the running and operations of the party.

Mr Mbuthia says that the changes were supposed to be proposed in a meeting convened under rule eight and read with rule Seven of the the Political Parties Registration Regulations of 2018.

"Such a meeting did not take place and in the alternative that it happened, the same was not communicated to the members and officials of the party," the appellant charges.

He adds that he had tried to have the issue resolved using internally founded mechanism, leading to a meeting on January 30, 2025.

He says the meeting ended up being a farce since it had officials of the proposed takeover of the party.

"In protest, my counsel made an objection on the same grounds and further wrote and served a letter dated January 30, 2025, detailing the malfeasance and the irregular, unlawful and unprocedural manner in which the attempted dispute resolution meeting was handled," he states.

He says that the Registrar of RPP through a letter dated the February 5, 2025, dismissed his objection "without giving sufficient, lawful, rational and reasonable grounds on which the decision was founded".

He terms the situation as devoid of reason and was outrightly biased.

"The decision by the RPP to dismiss the appellant's objection is irrational to ignore that proposed changes cannot contravene the party constitution...and violate Article 38 (1) (a), (b) and 38 (2) (b) of the Constitution of Kenya, 2010," he charges.

He prays that the tribunal finds the changes as proposed to be a nullity--unlawful and void--and subsequently that the status quo ante to maintain as obtaining on the December 17, 2024.

He further seeks the changes be dismissed with costs.

The party was established in 1996, received 0.15 percent of votes in the 2007 General Election where it won Lari Parliamentary seat through its then leader, David Kiburi.

Its vote share increased to 0.4 percent in 2013 though won no national seat, but secured county assembly seats in Meru, Kitui and Makueni counties.