Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has castigated attacks on him and his properties saying they were meant to intimidate him into silence.

Speaking during the Jubilee Party National Delegates Conference at Ngong Racecourse today, Uhuru said he had intended to announce his retirement but the threats have made him change his mind, vowing that he will not be cowed.

“I wanted to shelve politics and go deal with other things. But there are others who have decided that their work is to force and intimidate. Today, I want to tell you that, you can’t do that to Uhuru Kenyatta. Let them look for someone else,” he told delegates.

Addressing the wrangles within the party , that has seen a splinter allied to the Kenya Kwanza government announcing ousters in leadership positions, Uhuru said he will remain the party leader, and those dissatisfied were free to leave the party.

“Respect is a two-way street. I am not saying this with anger or hate, but Jubilee Party has its owners, and I will remain as the party leader until they decide I should hand over, “, he stated, amid cheers from the crowd.

The former president however called for respect by the leaders saying those who want to leave, should do so respectfully.

“The Jubilee Party symbol is a dove, which means peace. But being peaceful doesn’t mean that you’re a coward. Let’s talk respectfully; you won’t hear me insulting anyone”, he said.

Azimio leaders led by Raila Odinga also attended the Conference, and castigated the attacks on the former president. Raila said leaders who expect to be respected upon retirement should do better. he termed the attacks as cowardice.

“In recent months, we have seen very uncouth, primitive and unwarranted attacks on Uhuru Kenyatta and his family, including the founding president, Mzee Jomo Kenyatta. Shame on them!” said Odinga.

He added:

“I call for respect of retired leaders, not because Uhuru is in Azimio, but because it is what I believe in and what civilised people should do and believe in.”

The Azimio leader has meanwhile lambasted clams of seeking a handshake with the Kenya Kwanza Government

“Kenya Kwanza should stop losing sleep over an imaginary handshake. Kenya Kwanza is too shady to be embraced, and that is why we have decided to give dialogue a chance,” Raila stated.

During the NDC, Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni announced the ousting of members of the council deemed tohave been disloyal to the party.

They include Jimmy Angwenyi, Naomi Shaban, Nelson Nzuya, Joshua Kuttuny, Mutava Musymi, Kanini Kega, Sabina Chege, Rachel Nyamai, Advice Mundalo, Joel Kibe and Wangoi Gichuru.

They will be replaced with replaced with Beatrice Gambo, Maoka Maore, Joseph Manje, Saitoti Torome, Yassin Nur , blogger Pauline Njoroge, Jamleck Kamau, Maison Lechome, Agnes Nthumbi , Anthony Manyara, Nderitu Mureithi and Amina Ugdon Siyad .

Earlier on, the party was forced to change the venue of the, National Delegates Conference from Bomas of Kenya to Ngong Racecourse after being locked out of the historic venue due to unavailability of the venue.

In a statement this evening, the Jubilee faction led by EALA MP Kanini Kega dismissed the meeting at the Ngong Racecourse saying it was not a Jubilee party National Delegates Conference. Kega said an Internal Disputes Resolution committee had stayed and suspended a meeting notice issued by the former president on the 18th of May 2023, pending the hearing and determination of a dispute challenging the legality of the purported NDC.

“Therefore the meeting held today and purported to be an NDC has no legal consequence”, the statement reads.

Kega has consequently rubbished the ousting of  5 officials from the party’s council despite the pronouncements by the NDC.