Pauline Njoroge has formally resigned from the Jubilee Party after 14 years, ending her tenure as the party's Deputy Organising Secretary and National Executive Committee (NEC) member.
However, while the resignation marks her exit from Jubilee as a registered political party, it does not amount to a departure from former President Uhuru Kenyatta's political sphere.
Instead, Njoroge has transitioned to the Linda Mwananchi Movement, a political mobilisation platform that is not a registered political party but has been widely associated with and reportedly backed by Uhuru as part of his continued engagement in national politics.
In a statement released on Tuesday, July 21, Pauline said she was stepping away from Jubilee to embrace what she described as "a new chapter" in her political journey.
"For the last fourteen years, I have walked an incredible political journey. Today, however, I believe the time has come to embrace a new chapter," she stated.
She added that her resignation from both the NEC and the Jubilee Party takes effect immediately.
Shift Signals Strategy Rather Than Political Divorce ¶
Although her resignation attracted attention across the political divide, Pauline was categorical that she remains closely aligned with Uhuru Kenyatta's political ideals and leadership.
She described the former Head of State as her mentor, teacher and political father, crediting him with shaping her political career and exposing her to governance and leadership experiences across Kenya, Africa and internationally.
"I am especially grateful to the Jubilee Party Leader, H.E. Uhuru Kenyatta, who has been more than a leader to me. He has been a mentor, a teacher and a political father," Pauline said.
The remarks suggest that the move is less about abandoning Uhuru's political influence and more about shifting from a conventional political party into a broader political movement.
Unlike Jubilee, the Linda Mwananchi Movement is not registered by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties and therefore cannot field candidates in elections. Instead, it has increasingly emerged as a civic-political mobilisation platform associated with opposition politics and constitutional reform campaigns.
Political observers have repeatedly linked the movement to Uhuru Kenyatta's political machinery, with reports indicating it has received backing from allies of the former president, although it operates outside the formal structures of the Jubilee Party.
Linda Mwananchi Movement and the Growing WANTAM Campaign ¶
Pauline disclosed that she has actively participated in the Linda Mwananchi Movement since February this year and now intends to dedicate her efforts fully to its activities.
According to her, the movement provides a platform to champion constitutionalism, accountability, good governance and servant leadership while amplifying the voices of younger Kenyans.
She further linked her political future to the broader WANTAM campaign, which has increasingly become a rallying call among opposition figures advocating political transition ahead of the 2027 General Election.
"This movement represents an important platform for advancing the aspirations of our generation: a Kenya founded on good governance, the rule of law, constitutionalism, accountability and servant leadership," she stated.
She added that the movement aligns with the broader national renewal agenda championed under the WANTAM slogan.
The development underscores how Kenya's political landscape is increasingly being shaped not only through registered political parties but also through informal political movements and advocacy platforms that continue to influence public debate and voter mobilisation.
Jubilee Faces Another High-Profile Exit ¶
Pauline's departure is another setback for Jubilee, a party that once dominated Kenya's political landscape but has struggled to maintain cohesion since the 2022 General Election.
While the party remains under the leadership of Uhuru Kenyatta, several senior figures have either exited or shifted their political activities toward broader opposition formations and civic movements.
Her resignation comes at a time when opposition leaders continue reorganising ahead of the next electoral cycle, with informal political movements increasingly becoming vehicles for mobilisation before formal coalition structures are unveiled.
Although Pauline has left Jubilee, her own statement makes it clear that she has not abandoned Uhuru Kenyatta's political ideology or leadership. Instead, she has effectively moved from a registered political party into a political movement widely perceived to be operating within the same political orbit.
The transition illustrates how Kenyan politics is increasingly evolving beyond traditional party structures, with movements such as Linda Mwananchi serving as alternative platforms for mobilisation while parties prepare for future electoral realignments.
