Former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka’s party has formally changed its name to Wiper Patriotic Front from its original name, Wiper Democratic Movement, according to a Kenya Gazette notice released by the Registrar of Political Parties.
Musyoka stated during a visit to Ukambani last week on Friday that the rebranding was necessary in order to give the party a fresh outlook by incorporating young people.
“The party now has a new face – Wiper is going national. The new name will be Wiper Patriotic Front (WPF) so that our Gen Z are fully included,” Kalonzo said during a stop last Friday in Emali, Makueni County.
He also urged young people to take advantage of the opportunity to register as members of the party, claiming that the name embodies the spirit of patriotism displayed by Generation Z during the 2024 anti-Finance Bill rallies.
At the same time, the Jubilee Party reorganized its leadership structure, with new faces taking charge of important parts of the party.
The development brings to an end years of internal wrangling in which a faction of party officials loyal to former President Uhuru Kenyatta went to court to prevent the former head of state from being removed as party leader.
However, Kenyatta has preserved his post as party leader, joining a slew of other leaders who have dodged the axe, including Secretary-General (SG) Jeremiah Kioni, Deputy National Chairperson David Murathe, and National Chair for the League of Persons with Disabilities Wanja Maina.
Some new faces have joined the party, including Beatrice Gambo, who is now the Deputy Party Leader (Strategy), succeeding Jimmy Angwenyi, who was fired, and Joseph Manje, who takes over the role of Deputy Party Leader (Outreach) after Naomi Shabaan, the previous office holder, was removed.
Similarly, Yassin Noor succeeded Joshua Kutuny as Deputy Secretary General, and Mutava Musyimi was replaced as Deputy National Organizing Secretary by Pauline Njoroge.
Former Kieni legislator Kanini Kega, the party’s National Director in charge of elections, was also fired, and his replacement has yet to be announced.
