This archive report was first published on 12 September 2019.
On September 12, 2019, a petition was filed before the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal seeking to disqualify State officers from holding political party posts.
The petition, filed by Jubilee Party's Mombasa County secretary Patrick Kabundu, targets Secretary-General Raphael Tuju.
Tuju, appointed by President Uhuru Kenyatta as Chief Administrative Secretary without a portfolio, is categorized as a State officer.
According to Article 77(2) of the Constitution, any appointed State officer shall not hold office in a political party.
Mr. Kabundu argues that State officers who hold party positions have contravened the Constitution and should be disqualified.
"The officers who had taken the oath of office had sworn to protect the Constitution and that accordingly, they should not be in breach of it. Jubilee leaders have contravened the Constitution by holding a political party post while they are State officers," he said.
The tribunal has given the party 10 days to respond to the issues raised by its member, with the matter set to be heard on September 27.
