Published on September 18, 2025 by Agencies for Kenya Online News
Last Updated on 12 months by Agencies for Kenya Online News
Senior Counsel and Safina leader Paul Muite has officially handed over the party’s leadership to politician and businessman Jimmi Wanjigi.
Muite, who has held the party’s leadership for the past 30 years, handed over the mantle to Jimmy Wanjigi and his 2022 running mate and lawyer, Willis Otieno.
Wanjigi an ex-ally of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga took over the the reigns of leadership during the party’s National Delegates Conference (NDC) at Ngong Racecourse on Thursday, September 18, 2025.
The party has described such a huge day as a defining one, describing Muite, who founded the political vehicle in 1995, as a torchbearer relieving the young Turks of the party’s duties.
“Safina Party marks a defining moment in its history as Senior Counsel Hon. Paul Muite, the Party’s Founder and long-standing torchbearer, formally hands over the mantle of leadership to Hon. Jimi Wanjigi at the Safina National Special Delegates Conference (NDC), scheduled for (TODAY) Thursday, 18th September 2025, at 10:00 am at the Ngong Racecourse, Waterfront.” The statement read,
Though less prominent in recent years and remaining inactive for the recent years, the party’s silence was broken in the run-up to the 2022 general election after presidential aspirant Jimi Wanjigi was chased out of ODM and joined the party.
This followed his demand that former Prime Minister Raila Odinga shelve his presidential bid and support him instead, arguing that he had supported Raila twice before and expected support in return.
The fallout turned dramatic when angry ODM supporters confronted him at the party’s headquarters, forcing police to intervene and save him.
Hours later, Wanjigi addressed the press at a Nairobi hotel, lamenting what he described as betrayal by a party he had long supported. Days later, he announced his presidential bid on the Safina ticket, which was welcomed by then-party leader Muite.
This came as Safina was preparing for its National Delegates Congress, an event that saw Wanjigi invite the now President William Ruto, who attended alongside allies including Musalia Mudavadi.
Their presence fuelled speculation of a possible coalition, with many suggesting that Wanjigi would eventually back Ruto. Both sides denied these claims, insisting decisions would be made later. Although Muite and Wanjigi were seen embracing at the meeting, their alliance soon collapsed.
