Kioni: Uhuru is the overall kingpin in all regions
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, June 29, 2026Jubilee deputy party leader Jeremiah Kioni has defended former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s enduring political influence, saying that although there is no official position known as a political “kingpin” in Kenya, Uhuru would unquestionably occupy that role if it existed.
In an interview with a local radio station on Monday, June 29, 2026, responding to claims that political leaders hold the title of kingpin in their respective regions, Kioni dismissed the notion, insisting that Kenya’s Constitution does not recognise such an office.
“There is no office called kingpin. But if there were such an office, former President Uhuru Kenyatta would be the one holding it because he is listened to by all the communities in this country,” Kioni said.
Kioni: Uhuru has a national appeal
The former Ndaragwa MP has said that the fourth president has a national appeal and is one of the few leaders who is not constrained by regional or ethnic boundaries. He pointed out that the status of the former head of state is recognised in Kenya by all Kenyans, irrespective of their political and ethnic affiliations, unlike what is being experienced by politicians in specific areas of the country.
Kioni has reiterated that leadership is not confined to public office but is determined by being able to bring together the people and define the national agenda. He noted that Uhuru is still performing that role, even after his departure in the month of September 2022.
The former president continues to be a significant voice in Kenya’s politics, said Kioni, whose leaders and citizens still seek and value his advice. The national acceptance, he said, sets Uhuru apart from politicians who have a regional influence.
Kioni’s remarks also come as a reaction to the constant political squabbling on who can be considered a regional or national political kingpin. Kioni, who denied the existence of such an office, was trying to portray Uhuru as a statesman for whom political offices were nothing but a piece of paper.
The remarks are coming as Kenya’s political landscape is shifting drastically ahead of the 2027 general election. Opposition leaders are trying to unite opposition forces to form a bloc that can challenge the government of President William Ruto; political parties are rejigging, and new alliances are forming.
Although he has not had a high public profile since he departed from the State House, Uhuru is still a key figure in the national political scene. His frequent public appearances and activities continue to be news, and he is still seen as central to the political future of the nation by his supporters.