It was personal, not political: Raphael Tuju breaks silence on Jubilee exit
By Paulette Mboga, August 25, 2025Former Jubilee Secretary General Raphael Tuju has finally broken his silence on his decision to step away from active politics under the Jubilee Party, explaining that his exit was informed by personal reasons rather than political ambition.
Tuju, who has been out of the country for six weeks, said he had no interest in joining the Siaya gubernatorial race or any other political contest. Instead, he clarified that his move was personal and not driven by internal wrangles or the shifting tides in Kenya’s political landscape.
“There are no hard feelings,” Tuju explained in a TV interview on Monday, August 25, 2025, stressing that his decision was about personal space and not a reflection of bad blood with Jubilee or its leadership. “I have left Jubilee for personal reasons. No hard feelings.”
Appreciation to Uhuru
In his resignation letter on Wednesday, August 20, 2025, Tuju expressed gratitude to former President Uhuru Kenyatta for trusting him with the role of Jubilee Secretary General between 2016 and 2022.
He noted that Uhuru’s decision to appoint him, a leader from the Luo community, to manage a party rooted largely in Kikuyu and Kalenjin support bases was a bold and inclusive political step.
“May I take this opportunity to thank you most sincerely for having allowed me to serve as the Jubilee Secretary General. It was an exceptionally bold political step on your part,” Tuju said in his communication to Uhuru.
Tuju also used the opportunity to weigh in on the broader challenges facing Kenya’s politics, particularly the deep-rooted issue of ethnic mobilisation. According to him, Kenya’s democratic progress is repeatedly undermined by leaders who rely on tribal identity rather than ideas and policies.
“The biggest problem we have is ethnic mobilisation in our politics,” Tuju remarked, urging Kenyans to rethink how they engage in political participation.
Just a personal decision
While some have speculated that his decision signals a wider fallout within Jubilee, Tuju made it clear that he does not see how he currently adds value to the party.
His exit may have raised eyebrows, but his message remained consistent: it was a personal choice, free of political grudges. For Tuju, the focus now is not on party politics, but on stepping back from the intense pressures that come with active political life.