Jubilee Party leader Uhuru Kenyatta during a meeting of his party's delegates at Kiambu Golf Club in Kiambu County on May 25, 2026.
President William Ruto and his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta are once again locked up in a bitter political clash as the 2027 battle lines take shape.
On Tuesday, President Ruto's allies fired back at Mr Kenyatta over his blistering criticism of the Kenya Kwanza administration, saying the former Head of State was to blame for some of the challenges facing the country.
Some of the Kenya Kwanza politicians claimed that Mr Kenyatta’s constant attack of Dr Ruto’s administration are signs of denial that he was outsmarted by his then deputy in the 2022 General Election.
Mr Kenyatta unsuccessfully backed the late ODM leader Raila Odinga in the last presidential election. President Ruto’s allies dared Mr Kenyatta to front another candidate for another face off in 2027.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei.
Nandi Senator Samson Cherargei framed the 2027 contest as a rematch between Dr Ruto and Mr Kenyatta. The Senator, who last month sought to withdraw Mr Kenyatta’s retirement perks through a motion in Parliament over alleged political interference, said the former Head of State was yet to accept that Dr Ruto defeated his preferred candidate in the last poll.
“He never wanted Ruto to lead this nation. He is still fighting him todate because he is scared that Ruto’s performance will overshadow what he did in 10 years,” Mr Cherargei said.
“The 2027 election will be Ruto versus Kenyatta. We are ready for him in whatever form he chooses to come. We know he is propping up Fred Matiang’i, but the whole scheme is to prepare the way for his brother in 2032 for purposes of protecting their business empire,” the senator claimed.
Analysts believe that the renewed fight between Mr Kenyatta and President Ruto could be linked to the struggle for control of the populous Mt Kenya ahead of the 2027 polls.
Jubilee Party leader Uhuru Kenyatta (left) with his deputy Fred Matiang'i during the party's delegates meeting at Kiambu Golf Club in Kiambu County on May 25, 2026.
Mr Kenyatta is also seen to be positioning himself to regain his political influence both within his Mt Kenya backyard and at the national level.
Dr Ruto dislodged Mr Kenyatta from Mt Kenya region in the 2022 polls by sweeping a majority of elective seats under the UDA party. By remaining politically active, Mr Kenyatta would be able to call shots in the running of the country as well as to protect his family’s vast business interests.
Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, Kipkelion West Member of Parliament Hillary Koskei, Woman Representatives – Beatrice Kemei (Kericho) and Cynthia Muge (Nandi) similarly told Mr Kenyatta to keep off the running of government.
Speaking in Kericho, the leaders claimed Mr Kenyatta had made a habit to take potshots at President Ruto’s administration, yet Kenyans suffered under his tenure.
“What is it that Uhuru Kenyatta can tell us that President Ruto has done well in the four years he has been in power? Can he credit the President for anything positive that has happened to this country under the new leadership after he left power?” Mr Cheruiyot wondered.
Mr Cheruiyot claimed the Shilling was exchanging at an average of Sh170 to the Dollar, but has now been stabilised to an average of Sh129, while the health sector is continuously being fixed.
“We equally suffered when you (Uhuru) were President. Let me tell you, things were terrible. Farmers used to buy fertilizer at Sh7,000, now it is Sh2,500. When Kenyans used to be unwell during your days and you had the defunct National Hospital Insurance Fund (NHIF), the only thing it could pay for was Sh1,400 for beds,” Mr Cheruiyot claimed.
“Today, you can meet more than 10 million Kenyans who have been treated in public and private hospitals and had medical bills paid for partially or in full. That is the work of William Ruto,” said Mr Cheruiyot, who is also the Kericho Senator.
He further claimed that when President Mwai Kibaki handed over power to Mr Kenyatta in 2013, the national debt stood at Sh1 trillion, but by the time he left office in 2022, it had ballooned to Sh10 trillion, leaving the country in economic hardship.
“The problems that we are facing today is because of illegal borrowing, money which we cannot see what you did with it,” the Senator said.
“I am tempted to agree with what former Auditor General Edward Ouko stated in 2015 (reports) that the money never made its way to Kenya as it was stashed in private bank accounts in Panama. Then you dare come back to us to say Kenyans are facing hardship,” Mr Cheruiyot said.
“Bring back the money stashed in Panama and invest in the local economy. You cannot lecturer us as if we were licking sugar and honey in your term as President,” he went on.
Mr Ouko stated in his reports that the Sh215.5 billion Eurobond money was stashed in foreign accounts and did not find its way to Kenya.
“Every time you take the microphone, my brother and former President, you speak as if when you were President we used to live in heaven. Things were terrible (then). Maybe you do not know, Kenyans suffered under your rule,” Mr Cheruiyot said.
Ms Kemei, Ms Muge and Mr Koskei told Mr Kenyatta to retire from politics and leave the running of government to the leaders under President Ruto.
“Stop using the fuel hike, which is a global issue, to hit out at the President. Is it because the former President has an interest in the fuel sector?” Ms Beatrice Kemei, the Kericho Woman Representative, posed.
Ms Cynthia Muge, the Nandi Woman Representative, said: “The economy has been stabilized under Dr Ruto’s leadership and the agriculture sector is worth investing in due to policies put in place. Perhaps the former President does not see that because he did not initiate it.”
Kakamega deputy governor Ayub Savula. File | Nation Media Group
Separately, Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula told Mr Kenyatta to emulate the late Daniel Moi and Mwai Kibaki, who he said refrained from engaging in active politics after leaving office.
“The retired President Benefits Act bar a retired President from participating in politics 6 months after handing over power to a new President,” said Mr Savula.
He also pointed out that the rising fuel prices are a result of global dynamics, which are beyond Kenya’s control. As part of cushioning Kenyans from the vagaries of high fuel prices, Mr Savula said, President Ruto has put more than Sh28 billion in fuel subsidies.
Mr Kenyatta on Monday accused President Ruto for allegedly failing to listen to the cries of Kenyans over the rising cost of living.
Mr Kenyatta said instead of addressing economic issues affecting the people, Kenya Kwanza administration had allegedly resorted to blame games and ethnic profiling as a means to secure a second term.
“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,” Mr Kenyatta said.
“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. If you need help, call us and together we will find solutions for the people of Kenya," he added.
Jubilee deputy party leader Jeremiah Kioni said the country cannot afford to return to an era where leaders mobilise communities against each other instead of uniting citizens around solutions to unemployment, the rising cost of living, and economic empowerment.
“The politics of tribalism, ethnic suspicion, regional antagonism, and manufactured divisions have never built nations. They have only created fear, resentment, and suffering among Kenyans, while a few political actors benefit,” said Mr Kioni.
“The call before us is simple, let us reject divisive politics, protect our national fabric, and build a country where leadership is measured by service, integrity, and vision. Not noise, propaganda, or tribal mobilisation," he said.
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