Ruto turns fire directly on Uhuru, brands ex-president ‘rebel leader’
The latest confrontation marks a shift from earlier attacks in which Ruto's political allies and Kenya Kwanza officials routinely accused Uhuru of supporting opposition activities. This time, the president himself placed the retired Head of State at the centre of his political attack in a region that has emerged as an important opposition battleground.
President William Ruto has today launched his most direct political attack yet on his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta, accusing the retired president of abandoning the role of a statesman to become an opposition “rebel leader” as the 2027 political battle gathers pace.
Ruto made the remarks in Siaya during his ongoing development tour of Nyanza, hours after the High Court upheld a law barring retired presidents from holding leadership positions in political parties beyond six months after leaving State House.
The president seized on the ruling to question Uhuru’s continued involvement in opposition politics, accusing his former boss of bringing disrepute to the office he once occupied.
“Mimi nashangaa, mtu ambaye amekuwa Rais wa Kenya, unaacha kiti ya Rais, badala ya kwenda kuwa statesman, unaenda kuwa rebel leader, kiongozi wa upinzani,” Ruto said.
President Ruto also questioned Uhuru’s ability to challenge him politically after failing to defeat him while serving as president.
“Uhuru Kenyatta hakunishinda akiwa Rais, ataninishinda saa hii kweli?” Ruto posed, drawing cheers from his supporters.
Ruto further linked Uhuru to opposition activity in Nyanza, singling out Siaya Governor James Orengo and the Linda Mwananchi movement.
He accused the retired president of using political allies to challenge his administration, although such claims have been rejected by opposition figures.
The renewed confrontation comes against the backdrop of a High Court judgment by Justice Lawrence Mugambi upholding Section 6 of the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act. The provision restricts a retired President from holding a leadership position in a political party beyond six months after leaving office.
Importantly, the judgment does not bar a former President from belonging to a political party or participating in political activities.
Uhuru has since indicated that he will relinquish his Jubilee Party leadership position, saying the court ruling had provided the legal clarity necessary to complete the delayed transition. His office said the former President remained committed to a lawful handover guided by the party constitution.
Ruto widens attack on opposition
From Siaya, Ruto expanded his attack to the wider opposition, urging voters to reject leaders whom he accused of lacking coherent plans for the country.
“Wale majamaa wengine wanataka kucheza kamari ya patapotea na nchi yetu. Watu ambao hawana mpango, hawana sera… Kenya is too important. Our nation is too important to be left to games of guesswork,” he said.
ODM Chairperson Gladys Wanga joined the attack, questioning the political credentials and agenda of opposition figures.
“Hao watu wenye hawana chama ndiyo wanasema watakutoa kwa kiti? Chama hawana. Ajenda hawana,” Wanga said.
National Assembly Minority Leader Junet Mohamed also sought to portray divisions within the opposition as a political vulnerability, linking the wrangles to the continuing influence of Uhuru.
The president’s allies used the Nyanza tour to portray his government as delivering development projects while simultaneously seeking political support ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi praised Ruto’s development record in Siaya, while Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi declared that the Luo community would remain behind the President.
“This community of the Luo people will never vote for bandits. 2027 tutatembea pamoja,” Mbadi said.
Internal Security and National Administration Principal Secretary Raymond Omollo similarly pledged support for the President.
Development tour meets succession politics
Ruto’s political message was delivered alongside the launch and inspection of several infrastructure projects in Siaya.
President Ruto launched construction of the Kalandi-Ka Elija Road and Rabongo-Usenge Road, while inspecting the Dhogoye Bridge in Bondo Constituency.
But beneath the development agenda was an unmistakable political message: Ruto is increasingly taking direct aim at Uhuru as the 2027 succession contest takes shape.
The latest confrontation marks a shift from earlier attacks in which Ruto’s political allies and Kenya Kwanza officials routinely accused Uhuru of supporting opposition activities. This time, the president himself placed the retired Head of State at the centre of his political attack in a region that has emerged as an important opposition battleground.
Ruto also directly challenged the emerging opposition movement around figures including Orengo and Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, questioning whether their political mobilisation could unseat him.
The attacks come as opposition parties and movements attempt to consolidate their forces ahead of the 2027 election, while Uhuru’s formal role in Jubilee enters a new phase following the court ruling.
The High Court decision has removed Uhuru from formal Jubilee party leadership, but it has not removed him from political participation, leaving open the question of what role the retired President will continue to play in the opposition and wider political landscape.
