Uhuru blasts Ruto over cost of living, warns against tribal politics

Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta has launched a sharp attack on President William Ruto’s administration over the rising cost of living and what he described as growing ethnic politics, warning that Kenyans are increasingly frustrated by economic hardship and divisive political rhetoric ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Speaking during a Jubilee Party delegates’ meeting in Kiambu today, May 25, 2026, Uhuru urged the government to focus on addressing pressing economic challenges instead of engaging in blame games and tribal politics.

The former Head of State said soaring fuel prices and the high cost of living were pushing Kenyans to the brink, insisting that citizens were more concerned about economic survival than political divisions.

Uhuru’s latest remarks come amid growing political tensions over the rising cost of living, fuel prices and emerging political realignments as the country slowly shifts focus toward the 2027 General Election.

“Address the fuel issue, do not talk about tribalism. Arguments and hatred will not help us. Kenyans will not eat words. Kenyans are angry because of the high cost of living. They are crying out over soaring fuel prices. Listen to Kenyans instead of shifting blame,” Uhuru said.

He challenged the Kenya Kwanza administration to take full responsibility for the country’s economic challenges, saying leaders currently in office should stop dragging previous regimes into discussions about the current fuel crisis.

“You do not need to be very smart to know where the problem is. Asking why people did not do certain things when they were in office is not the way to go. Everything has its time. We left, and you’re in charge now. We tried and did what we could to our level best; it is your turn to deal with the issue,” he stated.

Uhuru maintained that Kenyans’ frustrations stemmed from economic pressure rather than ethnic or political differences, warning leaders against exploiting tribal sentiments for political gain.

“When you start blaming people and try to divide them, how does that help this country move forward? The issues affecting Kenyans have no tribe, race, or religion; they affect all of us. People are complaining because life is becoming unbearable. That is the problem; address it,” he added.

The former president also condemned what he termed as rising ethnic rhetoric in national politics, warning that the country risked repeating mistakes that previously triggered violence.

Without directly naming individuals, Uhuru appeared to reference recent remarks made by Hassan Omar during President Ruto’s tour of the Coast region, comments that have sparked criticism for allegedly targeting the Mount Kenya community while escalating attacks against the former president.

“Nobody is supposed to threaten a certain community because we are all Kenyans, and God knows why we are together in this country. You should not divide us,” Uhuru said.

“We have started seeing others spreading divisive ethnic politics. They don’t have shame while saying these things. They are making the remarks in front of leaders of our country, and nobody tries to stop them,” he added.

Uhuru warned that such rhetoric could revive tensions similar to those witnessed during the aftermath of the disputed 2007 General Election.

“As a nation, it is good to tell ourselves the truth. This is not the first time we are seeing leaders making divisive remarks that promote violence, and we last saw the same in 2007, which fueled the violence,” he said.

The Jubilee Party leader urged politicians to focus on issue-based politics and market their development agendas instead of inciting communities against one another.

“What did the hustler versus dynasty politics bring you? Now they want to bring in tribal politics. What else will it cause apart from problems?” he posed.

Uhuru further claimed that he had warned Kenyans during the 2022 General Election about the direction the country could take politically and economically.

“I warned you in 2022, but you didn’t listen. Now you are crying,” he said, while urging voters to make informed choices in the next election cycle.

“When they come to your areas, kindly take the money, but when the election comes, vote wisely,” he added.

The former president also addressed speculation over his recent political activities and continued involvement in the Jubilee Party, insisting that he is not staging a political comeback.

Uhuru said his current role is limited to stabilising the party and overseeing a smooth transition to new leadership following a series of court battles involving Jubilee.

“When I left the presidency, I handed over power peacefully and stepped away in good faith. Some people saw it as an opportunity to tarnish our party. They dragged us into unnecessary court battles that should never have happened,” he said.

He explained that Jubilee had already embarked on restructuring its leadership after amending the party constitution, adding that his focus was to mentor emerging leaders and ensure institutional stability within the party.

“I would have stepped away completely were it not for the court cases initiated by certain individuals. But here we are,” he stated.

Political observers say Uhuru continues to wield considerable influence within Jubilee and the broader opposition landscape despite officially retiring from active politics after completing his two presidential terms.