Former President Uhuru Kenyatta is walking a tightrope after the registrar of political parties endorsed the expulsion of his allies from the Jubilee party.
Uhuru, the founder of the party, has been left with limited options even as he launched a legal battle on Tuesday to reclaim Jubilee from a faction allied to President William Ruto.
Without a grip on the 28-member National Executive Committee-the party's principal decision-making organ, the former president's future at the helm of the party remains remote.
Separately, the move to technically oust Uhuru could deflate opposition leader Raila Odinga's Azimio, a political machine to which the former president is a key cog.
Uhuru currently sits as the chairperson of the Azimio La Umoja One Kenya political party council courtesy of Jubilee being an anchor member of the alliance.
There are now fears that the new Jubilee leaders could soon convene the National Delegates Convention to ratify a resolution to pull out Jubilee from Azimio in the coming weeks.
On Monday, acting Jubilee Secretary General Kanini Kega, who leads a faction allied to President Ruto, lifted the lid on far-reaching plans to hold a special NDC soon.
"The NEC will meet to execute its mandate relating to the convening of a special NDC pursuant to its resolutions passed on 10th February 2023. We expect that a properly convened SNDC will be held no later than July 15, 2023," Kega said.
It would be at this NDC that the delegates would ratify far-reaching resolutions including ending Jubilee's partnership with Azimio and also endorse new national officials.
The NDC will also officially install nominated MP Sabina Chege as the party leader to take over from Uhuru if the Political Parties Dispute Tribunal upholds the registrar of parties' decision.
The Registrar of Political Parties Anne Nderitu said the party followed due process in expelling the party's secretary general Jeremiah Kioni and vice chair David Murathe.
It also endorsed the suspension of party treasurer Kagwe Gichohi.
The next effect would mean that all the NEC resolutions including ousting Uhuru as the party leader are effected, technically throwing the ex-president into uncharted waters.
Political analyst Alexander Nyamboga said Uhuru's fate will be sealed when the rebels hold a parallel NDC to ratify withdrawal from Azimio.
''For me, I think the ultimate destination for the Kega camp is to have the NDC endorse decisions like to replace Uhuru and also an official pull out from Azimio,'' he said.
According to Nyamboga, Uhuru's influence will diminish once the rival faction manages to hold the NDC and replace him.
''Once that is executed, Uhuru's political relevance would be completely neutralised,'' Nyamboga said.
Kega's faction had picked nominated MP Sabina Chege to take over as the party leader while Kega was appointed as acting secretary general.
There are concerns that once the takeover of Jubilee is completed, the Mount Kenya region may be left without any alternative party.
Currently, the ruling UDA party enjoys massive support in the region but Ruto's opponents used Jubilee as their vehicle in the last elections.
Uhuru's allies have protested that the scheme to destabilise Jubilee is part of a political plot to box the region into Kenya Kwanza without any alternative voice.
Kirinyaga County Jubilee Party Chairman Muriithi Kang’ara warned that Uhuru will put a spirited fight to the bitter end against those whom he said wants to oust him from Jubilee.
''It would be foolhardy for anyone to think that Uhuru would sit back and watch as he is being fought by the current regime,'' he said.
On Monday, the former president's allies moved to court in a last-minute ditch to save the party from a takeover. His hope is in the tribunal.
The Political Parties Dispute Tribunal then barred the Registrar of Political Parties from approving the expulsion of Kioni and Murathe pending the hearing of the case filed by Uhuru's allies.
"That pending the hearing and determination of the Application inter partes, interim conservatory orders are hereby issued staying the decision delivered by the 1st Respondent's National Disciplinary Committee on 10th May 2023 to expel the Complainant from membership of the 1st Respondent," the motion reads.
"That Pending the hearing and determination of the Application inter partes, interim conservatory orders are hereby issued prohibiting the 2nd respondent from acting on any communication from the first Respondent and interested parties purporting to expel the complainant from the membership of the 1st respondent."