MWATATE, Taita Taveta County—President William Ruto has hit back at retired President Uhuru Kenyatta over his renewed claim that the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga won the 2022 presidential election, warning political leaders against making what he described as incoherent remarks about a contest held four years ago.
Speaking during a church service in Mwatate, Taita Taveta County, on Sunday, Ruto did not mention Uhuru by name but appeared to respond to the former President’s remarks made five days earlier during a Jubilee Party leadership handover in Nairobi.
“The election was held four years ago, but because of being confused, you come and speak incoherent things,” Ruto said.
Uhuru had on September 22 said he remained convinced that Raila won the 2022 presidential contest, despite Ruto being declared the winner and the Supreme Court subsequently upholding the result.
The retired President said he and Jubilee members had done everything possible to support Raila’s presidential bid and maintained that he knew the former opposition leader had won the vote.
Uhuru also questioned why political leaders continued to invoke his name and record nearly four years after he left office, arguing that his administration had handed over power peacefully following the Supreme Court’s decision.
The Supreme Court dismissed the 2022 presidential election petitions and upheld the declared result, making Ruto the constitutionally recognised winner of the election.
Ruto’s latest remarks introduced another dimension to the renewed political exchange, with the President also warning leaders about their conduct at public gatherings.
“Especially those of us who are leaders, if you are a leader, you ought to be a role model; you cannot be a leader and then show up at a public meeting drunk, and then tell children not to be drunkards,” Ruto said.
He urged political leaders to exercise discipline and restraint, saying their public conduct influences the wider society.
“Please, leaders, I humbly beg you to be disciplined and temperate, knowing that many others rely on us and look up to us,” he said.
Ruto further called on parents, religious leaders and communities to work together in promoting responsible behaviour, saying the Government could not address social challenges alone.
The exchange has revived a political debate that appeared settled through the electoral and judicial processes after the 2022 election.
It also comes as political formations reorganise ahead of the 2027 General Election. Uhuru stepped aside as Jubilee Party leader last week and handed the party leadership to former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, although he said he would remain involved in Jubilee affairs.
The former President’s renewed intervention in the 2022 debate and his continued role within Jubilee have added another layer to the political realignments taking shape ahead of the next election.
Ruto, meanwhile, has continued to defend his 2022 victory and challenge political opponents to focus on their alternative policies and plans for governing the country.
The latest exchange between the two former political allies now places their sharply different accounts of the 2022 contest back in the political spotlight as Kenya moves towards 2027.
