Former President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta has accused President William Ruto of using him as a scapegoat for what he termed a lacklustre administration.
Speaking on Tuesday at the Jubilee Party headquarters in Nairobi, where he chaired the National Executive Council (NEC) meeting, Kenyatta said the Azimio coalition accepted defeat in the 2022 General Election, but the Kenya Kwanza administration has continued to blame him for its failures four years later.
“We accepted that they won. Four years later, it is still Uhuru this and Uhuru that. But when things are not working, you start blaming someone else. Kenyans are smart, they know,” Kenyatta said.
The former Head of State announced that he will support former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i in the 2027 presidential race, saying the country needs leadership that will end tribal politics.
“I am supporting Matiang’i because we want to bring an end to tribal politics. I have looked at him and seen a man of wisdom, not a man of corruption, but a man of work,” Kenyatta said.
Kenyatta took issue with Kenya Kwanza leaders branding him a sponsor of the opposition for criticizing the government, saying democracy allows leaders to express divergent views without intimidation.
“We want to look for leaders who will bring services to citizens and reduce corruption. I cannot engage in insults with them. I do not have time for that. I want to unite with all of you, for Jubilee to unite with other Kenyans, and for us to chart the way forward for Kenya,” he said.
He urged young Kenyans to resist being used by politicians for selfish gain and defended his decision to keep off elective politics, noting that the Constitution limits a president to two terms.
“As Uhuru, I have asked Kenyans for the presidential vote three times. The Constitution says two terms. I respect the law and the Constitution. To say Uhuru will not be president does not mean Jubilee is finished,” he added.
On his future in Jubilee, Kenyatta said he will step down as party leader in compliance with a recent High Court ruling that bars retired presidents from holding party positions, but will remain as a senior advisor and senior member of the party pending the National Delegates Convention (NDC).
“I have decided to step down from that top position and become a senior advisor, since I am still here. I will remain a senior member of Jubilee in the meantime as we wait for the NDC. My younger brother should take up that position, and we organise ourselves for the work of 2027. That is not running away, that is planning ahead,” he said.
Kenyatta’s remarks come amid escalating exchanges with President Ruto, who has in recent weeks branded his predecessor a rebel leader for failing to embrace the role of a statesman.
Speaking in Siaya County during his re-election campaign tour, Ruto welcomed the High Court ruling barring Kenyatta from holding office in a political party.
“I am surprised that a person who has served as President of Kenya, instead of leaving office to become a statesman, chooses to become a rebel leader, an opposition figure. Now the courts are telling him to step aside,” Ruto said.
The President accused Kenyatta of sponsoring opposition activities to destabilize his government, and took a swipe at Siaya Governor James Orengo over the Linda Sponsor campaign.
“Surely that is a great shame. And now he has hired Orengo here, those people of Linda Sponsor. Governor Orengo should abandon talk of Linda Sponsor. If Uhuru Kenyatta could not defeat me while he was president, does he really think he can defeat me now?” Ruto posed.
President Ruto also asked Kenyans to reject the opposition, accusing them of lacking a clear plan for the country.
“Those people want to gamble with our nation. People without a plan, without policy, with barely any sense. Kenya is too important, our nation is too important, to be left to games of guesswork,” he said.
