Jubilee Party was on Thursday, February 5 dealt a blow after over 700 grassroot leaders in Laikipia County defected to align themselves with the government.
Led by the county chairperson, Sarolyne Wanjiku Mwendia, the leaders cited what a disconnection between Jubilee Party’s national leadership and the realities on the ground.
Mwendia is a prominent figure in the county, considering she garnered over 12,000 votes in Laikipia West Parliamentary Election in the 2022 General Election. This was no mean feat, bearing in mind she vied on a Jubilee ticket amidst the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) wave in the region at the time.
The defection comes following the recent entry of former Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i into the Jubilee Party leadership, a move Mwendia describes as a “departure from the concerns of the original foot soldiers who kept the party alive.”
‘’I have not walked away from the party, Jubilee abandoned the people. We remained to safeguard a house in the absence of its owners, but now, that very house no longer serves as a home for the hopes and dreams of Laikipia West residents,” Mwendia told journalists. “My 12,075 voters did not vote for a logo; they voted for a vision. Today, we move that vision to the center of power to ensure our county is at the decision-making table.”
Resignation letter
In a resignation letter dated March 5, 2026 and addressed to the party’s National Secretary General in Nairobi, Mwendia cited a shift in the party’s national direction, saying it no longer aligns with the aspirations and immediate needs of the people of Laikipia County.
‘’Having zealously supported the party, especially during its most challenging times during the 2022 elections and securing a notable mandate of 12,075 votes and also being the face of the Azimio-led demos in 2023, this decision comes after series of consultations with grassroot supporters and my campaign team,’’ the letter stated.
It further stated that the party’s current moves in the national politics do not resonate well with the immediate priorities and aspirations of the Laikipia residents.
‘’As a leader, my obligation is to ensure my constituents are adequately represented in the major national decision-making platforms,’’ the letter elaborated.
In a turn of events, the outgoing chairperson has declared her interest to contest for the Laikipia Senatorial seat in the upcoming general election, a decision that appears to directly challenge the sitting Senator John Kinyua who is likely to defend the seat using DCP ticket.
Mwendia says this marks a strategic move to strengthen the ‘’Government Wing’’ in Laikipia, backed by influential regional figures.
