What does Uhuru know? Intrigues as ex-president claims Ruto did not win in 2022
While Uhuru’s claim was without specifics, analysts say there could be much he knows about what happened during the national tallying process at the Bomas of Kenya given that as president, he had access to raw intelligence from the National Intelligence Service (NIS), which he cannot publicly share.
Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta escalated the battle between him and his successor, William Ruto, this week when he sensationally claimed he did not win the 2022 presidential contest against Azimio One Kenya Coalition’s the late Raila Odinga.
Reacting to Ruto’s consistent assertion that he cannot achieve his mission to oust him come next August’s elections by sponsoring the opposition something he did not achieve when he held the reins of power, Uhuru said he did everything he could to help Raila become president only for him to be rigged out.
Speaking in Siaya during his five-day tour of Nyanza barely a fortnight ago, Ruto said: “Uhuru did not defeat me when he was president and now I am the president and he is retired. Is he going to defeat me?”
However, Uhuru, who spoke after chairing a Jubilee Party National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting on Tuesday this week during which he handed over its leadership to Dr Fred Matiang’i, Uhuru retorted: “When they say they beat me, is it me who was on the ballot or Raila? I did all I could to help Raila become the President of this country… And votes were cast, and to this day, I know that he won that election. I know that. We know, we know!”
In that election, Ruto was declared the winner with 7,176,141 votes against Raila’s 6,942,930 but the victory was contested with the Azimio leader filing a challenge at the Supreme Court, which was unsuccessful.
While Uhuru’s claim was without specifics, analysts say there could be much he knows about what happened during the national tallying process at the Bomas of Kenya given that as president, he had access to raw intelligence from the National Intelligence Service (NIS), which he cannot publicly share.
Indeed, before the announcement of the results by Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati that Ruto had won the contest, there was an attempt by the National Security Advisory Committee to have him delay the results pending further verification.
Chebukati’s deputy Juliana Cherera and commissioners Justus Nyang’anya, Irene Masit and Francis Wanderi also broke ranks with Chebukati accusing him of manipulating and unilaterally announcing results that favoured Ruto.
Uhuru’s claim has, however, attracted sharp criticism including from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), which Raila led until his demise on October 15 last year.
“The 2022 election and the sacrifices of our departed Party Leader must not be reduced to material for contemporary vote-winning propaganda. Having reopened this matter, President Kenyatta should tell the country the whole story,” ODM leader Dr Oburu Oginga said.
On his part, United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General Hassan Omar said: “Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta continues to live and wallow … William Ruto conclusively won the 2022 election.”
Ahead of next year’s elections, Uhuru is seen as the force behind efforts to unite the opposition against with Ruto publicly labeling his as a “rebel leader.”
“We accepted that they won. Four years later, it is still Uhuru this and Uhuru that. But when things are not working, you start blaming someone else. Kenyans are smart, they know,” Uhuru said on Monday.
While an earlier ruling by High Court judge Lawrence Mugambi had barred Uhuru from holding party positions, another verdict by Justice Bahati Mwamuye opened the door for him to take part in active politics as a private citizen means he will continue to shape the road to the August 10, 2026 elections.
