Former Minister Raphael Tuju has resigned from the Jubilee Party.
In a letter dated August 19, 2025, Raphael Tuju thanked former president Uhuru Kenyatta for the opportunity to serve as the Secretary General of Jubilee Party despite his background.
Tuju recalled the March 2018 “Handshake” between then-President Uhuru Kenyatta and opposition leader Raila Odinga, noting that it was a crucial moment in Kenyan politics and it greatly influenced the internal dynamics of the Jubilee Party.
While the handshake was a necessary step to bring stability to the nation, he said, it also created a deep rift between Uhuru Kenyatta and then-Deputy President William Ruto.
“The motivation for the handshake was to secure the peace in our beloved Kenya. Unfortunately, that handshake brought a lot of hostility between me and President Ruto despite several initiatives to bridge the gaps that the three of us are aware of before my almost fatal accident in 2020,” read the letter.
Tuju revealed that despite multiple attempts to mend their relationship, the “handshake” caused a great deal of hostility, a situation that persisted until his near-fatal accident in 2020.
Raphael Tuju Slams Ruto’s ‘Handshake’ Move
In his letter, he pointed out that after the 2024 Gen Z protests, President Ruto had to negotiate a “handshake” with the former Prime Minister to steady his administration, much like the former President Uhuru Kenyatta had done.
He added that in the twists of Kenyan politics, following the 2024 Gen-Z riots, President Ruto, now shouldering the full responsibility of running the country, was compelled to make compromises he had previously rejected.
“In the ever-evolving ironies of Kenyan politics, after the Gen-z riots of 2024, President Ruto, now bearing the full responsibility of the weight of carrying the state, had to make compromises and do exactly what you had done in 2018: A handshake with Raila Odinga,” read the letter.
Also Read: Raphael Tuju Pens Letter to CJ Koome Over Petition Against Supreme Court Judges
Tuju Praises Uhuru Kenyatta
Tuju described Uhuru’s decision to entrust him with a sensitive party position, despite his Luo background and the party’s core support being largely Kikuyu and Kalenjin, as an exceptionally bold political move.
He added that those in the Jubilee party had once envisioned building a national party and a country capable of moving beyond politics defined by ethnic mobilization and polarization.
“It was a bold attempt to confront the Kenyan political narrative of “Us against Them”, I and you shared some coincidences in the Kenyan political arena,” read the part of the statement.
Also Read: Uhuru Reclaims Jubilee Party, Unveils Lineup of Party Leaders
Rahael added that he had remained loyal to Uhuru Kenyatta during his presidency, as party leader, and as a cabinet member.
“This letter is to thank you and to pay tribute to our political association that dates back to the time when I worked with you under President Kibaki to create the PNU outfit,” read part of the letter.
“We dared to dream and to be naive in the Kenyan political arena that we could go beyond tribe. I still hold dear those values of our shared humanity, beyond the easy tribal mobilization of “Us against Them. And I think it is good to be naive like our Gen Zs I believe that a time is coming when the Kenyans will be able to come together to confront the challenges of the youth population bulge that we talked about so many times.”
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