Jimmy Kibaki, son of former President Mwai Kibaki, has made a return to politics after a four-month break to address pressing family matters. In May 2024, Jimmy had stepped down as Deputy Leader of the New Democrats party, a role he held for three years. However, a recent Gazette notice issued by the Registrar of Political Parties, Ann Nderitu, confirmed his reinstatement as the party’s Deputy Leader.
The leadership reshuffle also saw Daniel Musembi take over as Secretary-General from Fredrick Muthangya, Simon Ngunjiri replace Roseline Ashepete as Deputy Secretary-General, and Daniel Kipkorir replace Khadija Ahmed as Deputy Treasurer.
Jimmy, often seen as the natural political successor to his late father, has deep roots in Kenyan politics. His political journey began in 1991 when he joined the Democratic Party of Kenya. He later transitioned to the National Alliance Party of Kenya, which merged with the Liberal Democratic Party to form the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC) in 2002. He also played a role in founding the Party of National Unity (PNU) before eventually joining the New Democrats in 2021.
In May 2024, Jimmy announced his temporary retirement from politics, citing the need to prioritize urgent family and business obligations. At that time, he stated, “Over the past 33 years, I have been intimately involved in various political initiatives in this country, including the formation and management of various political parties. At this time in my life, it has become apparent to me that I need to devote all my time to urgent family and business matters that require my full attention.”
