How Uhuru’s political moves are unsettling Ruto’s camp
By Aloys Michael, May 27, 2026Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta may have exited State House nearly three years ago, but his influence continues to cast a long shadow over Kenya’s political chessboard, increasingly rattling President William Ruto and his allies ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Despite publicly maintaining that he is no longer engaged in active politics, Uhuru’s recent political activities, strategic endorsements and continued hold over the Jubilee Party have triggered growing unease within the Kenya Kwanza administration.
He remains central to opposition realignments and political conversations across the country, particularly in the Mt Kenya region, where he still commands significant loyalty and influence.
Speaking during a meeting of Jubilee delegates in Kiambu County on Monday, May 25, 2026, Uhuru dismissed claims that he was actively engaging in partisan politics, insisting that his role was limited to overseeing a constitutional leadership transition within the Jubilee Party.
“We are discussing our Jubilee Party, where we are and where we are going. As you know, we have had challenges in our party, and as you know, not our own problems but problems brought by others,” Uhuru said.
“You know, since I left office as president and handed over power respectfully and peacefully, after that, my work was to embark on a plan to unite the Jubilee Party and give it the new leaders, and we started the process in the constitutional framework and in our party’s constitution.”
Uhuru further accused unnamed political actors of frustrating the party’s reorganisation efforts through prolonged legal battles that have dragged on for years.
“But others decided to use the opportunity to take us to court, and we have spent two to three years; we have been struggling for nothing because we were of the idea that the public should be given a chance to elect their leaders. I am now in the process of a handover, but others are saying that I am engaging in politics. If they had let me, I would be done by now,” he stated.
The remarks come at a time when tensions between Uhuru and the Kenya Kwanza leadership continue to intensify, with leaders allied to Ruto having repeatedly accused the former Head of State of quietly sponsoring opposition politics while still benefiting from taxpayer-funded retirement privileges.
The political fallout between Uhuru and Ruto dates back to the bitter 2022 General Election campaigns, when Uhuru abandoned his then-deputy and instead backed opposition leader Raila Odinga in the presidential race.
That fallout has never fully healed, with Ruto’s allies now increasingly portraying Uhuru as a powerful behind-the-scenes force working to undermine the Kenya Kwanza administration.
UDA in panic mode?
Speaking in Mombasa, UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar launched an attack against the fourth president, accusing him of financing anti-government campaigns.
“For us, our enemy, the person whom we don’t love, the person sponsoring the opposition, the person who was the president before, and the person who betrayed us must be stopped,” Omar said.
Within Kenya Kwanza circles, concerns have been growing over Uhuru’s continued political influence, especially in Central Kenya, where Ruto has been working aggressively to consolidate support ahead of the next election cycle.
Uhuru’s ability to mobilise networks, command financial resources and influence key political figures remains a major source of anxiety for Ruto’s strategists.
The political storm escalated further after Uhuru recently endorsed former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i for the presidency.
Speaking via phone during a Jubilee Party meeting in Narok in April, 2026, Uhuru praised Matiang’i as a capable and resilient leader ready to lead the country.
“I see Matiang’i as a strong and resilient leader. He may be new to politics, but he is a highly effective worker,” Uhuru said.
The endorsement was interpreted by many as a clear signal that Uhuru intends to remain politically relevant and influential as the 2027 succession politics begin to take shape.
Ruto allies responded swiftly, accusing the former president of abandoning the neutrality expected of retired Heads of State.
Ruto’s troops gimmicks
Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot warned Uhuru against engaging in partisan politics while expecting continued public respect.
“If you behave yourself like a retired President, people will respect you. But if you misbehave, people will deal with you as it is supposed to be dealt with,” Cheruiyot said.
On his part, Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei intensified the attacks by threatening to push for the withdrawal of Uhuru’s retirement benefits, arguing that the former president had violated laws governing retired presidents.
“The law states that if a president retires and fails to leave politics, the government, through the National Assembly, has the power to remove the retirement benefits,” Cherargei said.
“From next week, we are removing those retirement benefits.”
Cherargei has since sponsored a motion in the Senate seeking to review and potentially revoke Uhuru’s benefits under the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act.
The motion argues that the privileges accorded to retired presidents are conditional upon maintaining political neutrality after leaving office.
“Parliament resolves that the retirement benefits and allowances accruing to the retired President be withdrawn and/or reduced,” the motion states.
The proposal also seeks a comprehensive audit by the Office of the Auditor General into all public resources allocated to Uhuru since his retirement in 2022.
According to the motion, any funds recovered should be redirected “to serve the interests and welfare of the people of Kenya”.
Cherargei’s motion further accuses Uhuru of participating in active political activities, including attending rallies, issuing politically charged statements and engaging in consultations related to electoral contests.
“These actions, if established, amount to active engagement in political party activities contrary to the spirit and letter of the Act,” the motion reads.
Even as the political attacks intensify, Uhuru’s allies maintain that the former president has every constitutional right to express political opinions and support leaders of his choice.
However, the growing backlash from Kenya Kwanza leaders signals that Uhuru’s political shadow remains a significant factor in Kenya’s evolving succession politics, one that could shape alliances, influence voter dynamics and complicate President Ruto’s re-election strategy heading into 2027.