Why Ruto men are rattled by Uhuru
The former president appears to rattle Ruto allies whenever he speaks
7d agoEMMANUEL WANJALARealtime
Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta is once again emerging as a key player in preparations for the 2027 presidential contest against President William Ruto.
Uhuru is readying for a rematch with Ruto after losing the first round in 2022, when he backed former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.
Uhuru’s Jubilee Party has publicly announced it is backing former Interior Minister Fred Matiang’i for the top job, a move that appears to have drawn interest in candidature of the former CS.
“We’ve settled on Matiangi as our candidate. Not to mean that he becomes the eventual presidential candidate but a presidential candidate within the party who would then join others in coming up with one person who I believe as a coalition we will be able to back,” Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni announced in February.
Since then Matiang’i has attended the opposition meetings accompanied by Jubilee chairman Saitoti Torome.
However, former Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu has dismissed claims that Matiang’i is a Uhuru project.
“There is nothing as bad as projects and because I know Matiang’i, I don’t think he is someone’s project,” Wambugu says.
Wambugu, who was until recently Gachagua’s political adviser, compared the situation with the appointment of Mutahi Kagwe, Lee Kinyanjui and William Kabogo to the Cabinet.
“I think we are back on the issue of association. When Mutahi Kagwe was appointed, it was said it was because of Uhuru, which I don’t think so,” Wambugu said.
Despite President Ruto paying a visit to Uhuru at his Gatundu home in December, which was followed by appointments of the former President’s allies into the Cabinet, their hostility remains.
During the meeting, the two leaders committed to maintaining regular engagements on national issues alongside other leaders and stakeholders.
However, Uhuru soon told the youth to fight for their rights, a remark that triggered angry responses from the President and his allies.
They accused Uhuru of inciting the youth against the Kenya Kwanza administration, coming only months after the Gen Z protest that threatens to topple the Ruto regime.
“Our young people deserve the best from us. Let us not pit our children against each other. These young Kenyans do not need violence or confrontation. They want opportunities, jobs to engage in business, and that is what we should be doing as leaders,” Ruto said in a jab directed at Uhuru.
The issue has resurfaced once again after Uhuru reiterated the call in a lecture in Uganda.
Speaking at the Second Annual Guild Leaders’ Summit held at Makerere University, Uhuru challenged youth leaders to view themselves as the final guardians of Africa’s future.
“You are the last line of defence in the battle to rescue the heart and soul of Africa,” Uhuru said.
This triggered a barrage of attacks from Ruto’s camp led by among others Majority leader in the National Assembly Kimani Ichungwah, Majority Whip Sylvanus Osoro and Ruto’s aide Farouk Kibet.
The war of words continued on May 3, when while attending the wedding of Kanu chairman Gideon Moi’s son, Uhuru said the Ruto administration is scared of the youth.
“…I also had a political father (Moi), and you know he wasn't scared of young people like some people around here today. When young people talk, they panic," Kenyatta noted.
Impeached Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has also responded, accusing Ruto of sending “young politicians” to abuse Uhuru.
“You have sent your errand boys like Farouk and Ichung’wah to go insult our young man, the Fourth President — they must stop. If you continue using these young men to insult the President, the next time you come here, I will tell the people to also come for you,” Gachagua said.
Uhuru’s brother Muhoho Kenyatta on Monday asked the youth to stand up and challenge the status quo in the country by taking over leadership positions.
The Kenyatta family’s financial war chest is also expected to bankroll the opposition in 2027 as they move to protect their business interests.
While Raila has joined Ruto under the broad-based arrangement, Uhuru still maintains ties with the former Prime Minister. There is the thinking that in the event the broad-based arrangement collapses, the opposition may as well benefit from Raila’s support.
Makueni Senator Dan Maanzo on Tuesday hinted at that possibility, saying ODM only joined President Ruto to stabilize him “because we were losing the country through him”.
“If Gen Zs had stormed the State House, most probably he would have run away, and today we would not be having a government. So, ODM went to stabilise only up to 2027,” he said on KTN.
