Uhuru defends Gachagua, warns Jubilee leaders against insults

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has warned members of the Jubilee Party against using the outfit to hurl insults at political leaders.

His statement appeared to be a sharp rebuke to party officials who have recently targeted Mr Rigathi Gachagua in public statements.

Speaking in Murang’a County on Friday, Mr Kenyatta said he would not allow Jubilee to be turned into a platform for personal attacks.

He insisted that political competition must be guided by respect and ideas rather than abuse.

“At times I’m saddened to see people pretending to defend the party by insulting Rigathi Gachagua and others. I don’t want that nonsense in my party. People should do their politics respectfully,” he said.

The remarks came amid growing friction within Jubilee, with some party officials openly criticising Mr Gachagua over his recent political manoeuvres.

Mr Kenyatta said he was disturbed by the resurgence of foul language and cyber abuse by politicians aligned with the party, warning that such conduct only alienates the public.

“Before I hand over this party, I want to make it clear that if anyone continues using Jubilee to insult others, I will not hesitate to call them out and send them packing,” he warned.

The former Head of State’s message was seen as directed at Jubilee Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni, who in recent weeks has accused Mr Gachagua of trying to interfere with opposition realignment efforts led by former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i.

Mr Kioni alleged that Mr Gachagua had attempted to pressure Dr Matiang’i to abandon plans of working under Jubilee and instead join smaller opposition outfits--claims that Mr Gachagua’s allies have dismissed as “baseless propaganda.”

Mr Kenyatta’s defence of Mr Gachagua marks a rare tone of reconciliation between the two former allies, whose relationship collapsed in the run-up to the 2022 polls when Gachagua sided with then-Deputy President Ruto under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

Their political rivalry deepened after a group of goons invaded the Kenyatta family’s Northlands farm, where livestock were stolen and slaughtered--an incident some of Mr Kenyatta’s allies claimed was politically instigated.

The former President’s latest remarks could be an attempt to de-escalate political hostility and reposition Jubilee as a centrist party focused on issue-based politics.

Mr Kenyatta urged members to focus on rebuilding the party’s grassroots networks ahead of 2027 rather than engaging in divisive politics.

“We cannot win back the trust of Kenyans through insults. Jubilee must be a party that stands for unity and decency,” he said.

His comments come at a time when Jubilee is working to reclaim its identity following the 2022 election losses and internal wrangles that saw competing factions claim leadership.

Mr Kenyatta, who remains the party leader, has promised to oversee reforms before formally stepping back from active politics.