Kioni slams Gachagua, defends Jubilee Party’s opposition role
By William Muthama, September 17, 2025Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni has defended the party against claims that it is not genuinely in opposition, insisting that its stance is driven by ideology rather than personal gain.
Speaking during an interview on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, Kioni sought to clarify the Jubilee Party’s position, stressing that the party’s opposition role is based on principle rather than opportunism. He urged the opposition to stop misinterpreting their stance.
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“People should stop double-guessing us. We are in opposition because we are ideological, not hungry,” he said.
He also criticised former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, arguing that the only reason Gachagua is in opposition is because he was impeached, unlike Jubilee leaders who joined the opposition on principle.
This comes after Kioni claimed that leaders who have been impeached cannot legitimately mobilise support, saying that doing so only misleads the public.
Reflecting on past exchanges with Gachagua, Kioni added, “I remember Gachagua calling me a madman. Now I see him saying the things I used to say more eloquently and with a big megaphone.”
Addressing misconceptions
Kioni further called out Gachagua for trying to paint him as aligned with NIS and working with President Ruto, describing the claims as unfair.
“You see, when Gachagua was in the US, he was saying, ‘I’m working with NIS; I’m working with Ruto.’ The other day, Ndegwa Njiru was saying Matiangi is in NIS. They don’t understand him,” Kioni added.
He said the party’s principled opposition is often misunderstood, emphasising that Jubilee has always been in opposition.
Elsewhere, Gachagua accused President William Ruto of plotting to split the opposition.
“It’s unfortunate; our colleagues in the opposition have been very preoccupied with trying to paint us in Jubilee as those who are not in the opposition, yet they met us. They should actually ask us, “Why were we wearing suturias?“ Kioni said, underscoring the need for clarity on the party’s stance.
The Secretary General concluded by urging rivals and the public to acknowledge Jubilee’s firm stance. He emphasised that the party’s opposition role is principled, ideological, and distinct from opportunistic political alignments.