President William Ruto used the closing moments of his recent tour of Kenya’s Nyanza region to launch a fresh attack on his predecessor, former President Uhuru Kenyatta. Ruto accused Kenyatta of actively working to undermine his administration and urged the former leader to step back from any political mobilisation.
The president’s remarks came after a series of rallies in the Nyanza provinces, an area historically aligned with Kenyatta’s political base. Ruto said that Kenyatta’s continued involvement in party affairs was “counter‑productive” and called for the former president to refrain from influencing current government policies.
Uhuru Kenyatta served as Kenya’s head of state from 2013 until 2022, when he handed power to Ruto following a contested election that had initially seen the two men as allies. Their partnership has since deteriorated, with public spats and competing interests emerging within the ruling coalition.
Political analysts note that the exchange underscores growing tension within Kenya’s leadership ahead of future electoral cycles. The rift could affect the cohesion of the United Democratic Alliance, the party that brought Ruto to power, and may have implications for upcoming parliamentary and presidential contests.
Ruto’s call for Kenyatta to disengage from active politics arrives as the president seeks to consolidate his own authority, particularly in regions like Nyanza where Kenyatta’s influence remains strong. The episode highlights the ongoing power struggle between Kenya’s two most recent presidents.
<small>Source: AllAfrica — read the original story there.</small>
