Leaders allied to the broad based government have stepped up their criticism of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta after he said he believes the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga won the 2022 presidential election.
Speaking during a women’s empowerment programme at Mirere Comprehensive School in Matungu Constituency, Kakamega County, the leaders described Uhuru’s remarks as reckless and said they could create unnecessary tension as the country prepares for the 2027 General Election.
Led by National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, the leaders questioned why Uhuru peacefully handed over power to President William Ruto if he believed Raila had won the election.
“You peacefully handed over the instruments of power to the President. Why did you hand over power to him if you believe he did not win the elections? What kind of person are you?” Wetang’ula posed.
The Speaker accused Uhuru of seeking to discredit President Ruto and undermine his administration saying such efforts would not succeed.
Wetang’ula also said the remarks risked undermining the credibility of the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), which declared Ruto the winner of the 2022 presidential election.
“Uhuru must respect President Ruto and allow him to discharge the mandate given to him by Kenyans. Why does he want President Ruto to serve only one term when the Head of State propelled him to two terms during his tenure?” he said.He urged Uhuru to avoid active political engagement after leaving office.
“You should not be the first retired president to mess up his retirement by engaging in politics that backstabs his successor. Respect the high office that you occupied for 10 years courtesy of the votes of Kenyans,” said Wetang’ula.
The Speaker said the timing of Uhuru’s remarks was unfortunate arguing that Kenya needed peace and stability as it approaches the next General Election.
He also challenged the former President to explain why he did not do more to secure votes for Raila in his Mt Kenya political backyard during the 2022 election.
“You are not telling ODM supporters why you did not walk with their candidate in your Mt Kenya backyard in search of votes if you genuinely supported him. Address your shortcomings that denied Raila the presidency and keep off President Ruto,” he said.
Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, Senator Vincent Kiprono, Kakamega Governor Fernandes Barasa, MPs Emmanuel Wangwe, Innocent Mugabe, Florence Jematiah, David Ndakwa and Oscar Nabulindo, as well as President Ruto’s aide Farouk Kibet, also criticised Uhuru.
Cheruiyot accused the former President of undermining Ruto during his final years in office and urged him to respect the outcome of the 2022 election.
“Uhuru undermined President Ruto when he was his deputy, denied him resources, called him names and used his juniors in government to intimidate him. But his silence paid off as Kenyans elected him as their President,” said Cheruiyot.
He added: “Uhuru must respect the verdict Kenyans gave and move on respectfully. If he dares us, we will hit back strongly.”
Governor Barasa said efforts to undermine the Kenya Kwanza administration would not succeed insisting that the government remained focused on delivering its development agenda.
He also pledged support for President Ruto’s re-election bid and urged the President to back Wetang’ula’s presidential ambitions in 2032.
“You have our total support for your second term. In 2032, it will be your turn to rally your community behind Wetang’ula, who is our choice to succeed you,” Barasa said.
Ndakwa and Nabulindo echoed the sentiments saying the Luhya community would be ready to pursue the presidency in 2032 with Wetang’ula as its preferred candidate.
The leaders also cited various government projects in Western Kenya as evidence of the administration’s development record.
They highlighted the construction of Level Six hospitals in Kakamega and Bungoma, expansion of the Standard Gauge Railway, the Rironi–Mau Summit–Malaba dual carriageway, revival of the Mumias and Nzoia sugar factories, payment of outstanding dues to sugarcane farmers and former Pan Paper Mills workers, and construction of modern markets and stadiums.
The leaders said the projects were among the reasons they were mobilising support for President Ruto’s re-election.
Barasa said the national government had allocated KSh12 billion for the tarmacking of 200 kilometres of roads in Kakamega County and had established 25 modern markets, among other development projects.
He also welcomed a recent High Court decision upholding the IEBC’s mandate to tally and verify presidential election results at the national level.
