Former Jubilee Party Secretary General Raphael Tuju has officially resigned from the former ruling party in a move that has stirred political speculation over his next steps.
In a letter addressed to former President Uhuru Kenyatta on Tuesday, August 19, Tuju said he saw no further value he could add to Jubilee.
“I still look forward to working with you in the future. However, at the present time, I see no more value that I can add to the Jubilee Party. I therefore tender my resignation,” Tuju wrote.
Tuju, who once served as a powerful Cabinet Secretary without portfolio in Uhuru’s administration, has since been linked to fresh political ambitions and possible re-entry into government.
Whispers of a Siaya Gambit
According to sources close to ODM insiders in Siaya County, Tuju’s resignation could be tied to interest in Siaya gubernatorial succession politics. With the county already seeing fierce rivalry between James Opiyo Wandayi, David Ochieng, and Charles Owino Wahongo, Tuju — a native of Rarieda Constituency — is said to be weighing whether to enter the race as a consensus candidate backed by a Raila Odinga-Orengo axis.
Political observers argue that Tuju’s deep national networks, combined with his Luo community roots, make him a formidable figure should he choose to contest.
The Cabinet Reshuffle Factor
At the same time, rumours within the Kenya Kwanza-ODM National Dialogue Committee (NADCO) corridors suggest that Tuju could be lined up for a cabinet slot in President William Ruto’s government once the NADCO report is fully implemented.
Insiders say the much-anticipated reshuffle, expected after the bipartisan talks, may see a number of technocrats and political veterans incorporated into Cabinet as part of Ruto’s handshake deal with Raila Odinga. Tuju’s name has been floated as a potential beneficiary of this arrangement, owing to his history as a trusted bridge-builder between rival camps.
“He is one of the few leaders who can speak comfortably with both Uhuru and Raila, and still find an audience with Ruto. That profile makes him a prime candidate for a unity Cabinet,” a senior ODM official confided.
A Checkered Political Journey
Tuju has long been a unique figure in Kenyan politics. From his election as Rarieda MP in 2002, to serving in various Cabinet dockets under President Mwai Kibaki, and later as Jubilee’s Secretary General under Uhuru, he has maintained relevance across political cycles.
His tenure at Jubilee was marked by his role in managing the Uhuru-Raila handshake after the disputed 2017 elections. He later transitioned to become Executive Director of the Azimio la Umoja One Kenya Alliance, tasked with steering coalition coordination during the 2022 general elections.
What Next for Tuju?
As it stands, Raphael Tuju’s resignation is more than just a quiet exit from Jubilee Party. It signals a calculated repositioning — either towards Siaya County succession politics or a high-stakes Cabinet comeback in a post-NADCO power-sharing government.
Either way, Tuju is back in the spotlight. And if history is any guide, his next political move will not be ordinary.
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