Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta has ruled out a return to active politics, saying he is satisfied with the 10 years he served as Kenya’s Head of State.
Kenyatta said he had no interest in seeking political power but maintained that, as a former President, he retained the right to advise Kenyans on matters affecting the country.
He spoke on Sunday during the 23rd anniversary commemoration of the late former Vice President Michael Kijana Wamalwa at his home in Milimani, Trans Nzoia County.
The former President also dismissed claims that he was financing opposition activities, saying Kenyans should be allowed to determine their political choices ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“I have no interest in politics, and Kenyans will decide who they want as President in 2027. No one will force Kenyans to support their side. Let us seek votes in peace and integrity,” Kenyatta said.
He accused the government of restricting political freedoms by allegedly preventing opposition leaders from travelling across the country to meet and address Kenyans.
“No one should undermine the rights of Kenyans and their political freedom to choose where to belong. I am not interested in power, but I have a right to advise Kenyans,” he said.
Kenyatta said the choice of President in 2027 should ultimately be left to voters, listing opposition figures Kalonzo Musyoka, Fred Matiang’i, Martha Karua and Edwin Sifuna among those whose political ambitions should be subjected to the voters’ decision.
“When the time comes, Kenyans will decide whether it will be Kalonzo, Matiang’i, President Ruto or Sifuna. Kenyans should be left to elect their President without being harassed,” he said.
Uhuru recalls Wamalwa’s 2002 role
Kenyatta used the commemoration to reflect on Wamalwa’s role in the opposition coalition that defeated the Kenya African National Union (KANU) government in the 2002 General Election.
Wamalwa joined forces with the late President Mwai Kibaki and other opposition leaders under the National Rainbow Coalition (NARC), ending KANU’s 24-year rule.
Kenyatta recalled that although he and Wamalwa belonged to opposing political camps at the time, the two maintained a close friendship.
“Though we were in different political camps, Wamalwa and I were good friends. I was in KANU with Moi, but Wamalwa, together with other leaders, chased us out of power,” he said.
The remarks came as opposition leaders renewed calls for political unity and sacrifice, with several leaders pushing for the formation of a coalition capable of mounting a single challenge to President William Ruto in 2027.
Kalonzo Musyoka, Fred Matiang’i, Martha Karua, Charity Ngilu and Justin Muturi pledged to work together and overcome individual ambitions in the search for a single presidential candidate.
Kalonzo said opposition leaders were developing a strategy aimed at ensuring Ruto serves only one term.
The Wiper Patriotic Front leader also defended Kenyatta against criticism from Kenya Kwanza leaders, saying the former President was entitled to speak on national issues.
“Uhuru has said he has no interest in politics. Why all these attacks at him? He has a right to talk as a leader in this country. Leave him alone,” Kalonzo said.
He said talks on forging a strong opposition coalition were already underway.
Matiang’i condemned rising cases of political violence, warning that political clashes were damaging Kenya’s democratic reputation.
“The political violence witnessed is not good for the country and I blame leaders fanning it. We must move away from goonism because it is portraying the country badly,” he said.
Former Kitui Governor Charity Ngilu, meanwhile, called on Kenyatta to join the opposition in its efforts to unseat the Ruto administration.
“The best government is here and all opposition leaders eyeing the presidency are the best. We ask Kenyatta to join us to remove this bad regime from power,” Ngilu said.
Muturi and Karua also committed to working with other opposition leaders, saying individual presidential ambitions should not stand in the way of selecting a candidate capable of challenging Ruto.
DAP-Kenya party leader Eugene Wamalwa said the ideals of democracy and sacrifice embodied by his late brother should serve as a lesson for United Opposition leaders to emulate.
The leaders pointed to Wamalwa’s role in bringing together opposition forces ahead of the 2002 election as an example of the political sacrifice and unity they said would be necessary to mount a successful challenge in 2027.
