This archive report was first published on 26 June 2020.
June 22, 2020, marked a significant setback for Deputy President William Ruto's Jubilee Asili party as the Registrar of Political Parties, Anne Nderitu, rejected its registration application.
The registrar cited that the name 'Jubilee Asili' resembled that of the existing Jubilee Party, thus violating Section 8 of the Political Parties Act, 2011.
Acting Registrar Anne Nderitu wrote to James Simiyu, the applicant, stating, 'This is to inform you the name suggested is not in compliance with section 8 of the Political Parties Act, 2011. Further and without prejudice upon registration of the party the name shall not be in line with Article 91 of the Constitution of Kenya.'
Simiyu, however, disputed the decision, claiming that there was no resemblance between the two parties' names, symbols, or slogans.
He stated, 'There is no resemblance whatsoever between Jubilee Party and Jubilee Asili. I went to the registrar on June 18 to conduct a search and preserve the name and everything was okay.'
Simiyu has vowed to challenge the decision at the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal.
