Former President Uhuru Kenyatta on Friday launched a scathing attack against President William Ruto , telling him to emulate former President Mwai Kibaki, who never attempted to gag his predecessor, Daniel arap Moi.
He said the government was targeting him with the intention of curtailing his democratic right to engage in political discourse, even when not pursuing any elective seat.
“You all remember in 2005 when Moi and I, as well as some in this government, teamed up to campaign against the draft constitution, where the retired president was telling Kenyans that the proposed document was bad. We campaigned against the government position and won,” he recollected.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta, during the burial mass of the late Cyrus Jirongo at Lumakanda D.E.B. Stadium in Kakamega County, on December 30, 2025.
Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation Media Group
Moi had then teamed up with, among others, Mr Kenyatta, Mr Ruto and Raila Odinga, and successfully defeated the draft.
The former President spoke to Narok residents on Friday via his brother's phone, Muhoho. Mr Muhoho represented him at a thanksgiving ceremony for Jubilee Secretary-General Moitalel Ole Kenta at his Parburush home in Narok County.
The meeting was attended by Jubilee Deputy Party leader Dr Fred Matiang'i, Party of National Unity leader Peter Munya, Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya, several lawmakers and other politicians.
Mr Kenyatta also reminded President Ruto of the 2006 chopper crash in Marsabit County, which caused by-elections that saw Moi also hit the campaign trail in support of Kanu candidates.
The crash occurred on April 10, 2006, when a military Harbin Y-12 transport plane carrying a high-level peace delegation crashed into Mount Marsabit (Kofia Mbaya hill) due to heavy fog and poor visibility.
The accident claimed 14 lives out of the 17 people on board, decimating the region's political leadership by killing five Members of Parliament.
The dead were Bonaya Godana (North Horr), Nakuru Town MP Mirugi Kariuki, Titus Ngoyoni (Laisamis MP), Abdi Sasura (Saku MP), Dr Guracha Galgalo (Moyale MP) and Abdullahi Adan, who was then a member of the East African Legislative Assembly.
Moi teamed up with Mr Kenyatta to campaign for Kanu candidates in the by-elections that ensued, but Kibaki’s NARC-Kenya emerged victorious, flipping two seats previously held by Kanu.
While Kanu won in Moyale and Laisamis, the Kibaki side scooped the rest.
Mr Kenyatta used the two incidents to remind President Ruto that it was not the first time a retired president had been involved in current political affairs.
President William Ruto.
Photo credit: File
“President Kibaki did not interfere with his predecessor’s opposition campaigns. Despite having retired in 2002, he actively campaigned against the proposed Wako Draft and was also involved in the 2006 by-elections. No one told Mr Moi to keep quiet,” he said.
“When I stand and speak about politics, they tell me to keep quiet… that I am retired. Why did they not tell Moi to retire?” he posed.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta makes his remarks during the East Africa Region Global Health Security Summit in Mombasa on January 29, 2025.
Photo credit: Kevin Odit | Nation
He said he is not in active politics, “but I have a democratic right to engage in political discourse… I have my Jubilee Party to sell, defend and promote.”
He assured the country that he is not pursuing any elective seat but, as a Jubilee Party member, by situation, cost and consequences, he will not be silenced any time soon.
He added: “If you go to America, former President Barack Obama is active in defending his Democratic Party and its ideals.”
“Why me? I cannot speak, cannot go to a wedding or burial… cannot visit friends… that I have to be dumb, yet I have eyes that can see and ears that can hear. I have democratic rights like all others under the Constitution,” he said.
He warned that now that he has made it clear he will not be gagged, it was up to President Ruto’s administration to decide how to relate with him by mirroring the Kibaki era’s tolerance and understanding of democracy and the rights derived from it.
Mr Kenyatta also hit out at recent calls by the ruling United Democratic Alliance party recommending that affiliate parties dissolve to support the government’s re-election bid.
"Let us promote our policies as Jubilee, without being disturbed by those who lack a clear stance in life and are driven by self-interest. We are telling them that they cannot threaten us. We know our leaders, led by Fred Matiang’i, Kenta, and others. They cannot scare us. Let those mongrels go away; let them sell their wares in other parties, not in Jubilee."
He congratulated the current Jubilee leaders, led by Dr Matiang'i, saying that although he knows the former Interior Cabinet Secretary as a man of little politics but a hardworking individual, no one else matches him when it comes to work.
"When it comes to work, serving the people, and fighting corruption, he leads alongside his colleagues. I also congratulate Mr Kenta on his appointment as the Jubilee Secretary General; we have walked this political journey together for a long time," said the fourth President of Kenya.
Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
"I can confidently say that my younger brother Kenta is a man with a firm stance, who fears no one, and fights for his people rather than his own interests. With him, I know the party will grow and become stronger politically," he said.
He also congratulated Mr Jeremiah Kioni and all those who stood by the Jubilee Party during its challenges, saying they protected it when some individuals wanted to sell it for a few coins.
He stated that those behind the current conflict in Jubilee are also responsible for the disputes in other parties.
"It is not only Jubilee that they are fighting; they are behind the closure of several other parties. That is not in line with multiparty democracy. Multiparty democracy calls for respect and democracy."
This also appeared to be a direct response to former Nyeri Town MP Mr Wambugu Ngunjiri, who has caused the Registrar of Political Parties to withhold the registration of new leadership in the Jubilee Party.
The party had appointed Mr Kenta as the new Secretary-General, replacing Jeremiah Kioni, who was elevated to Deputy Party Leader (Operations).
Other key appointments included Vincent Mogaka Kimoki as chairperson and Dan Mwangi as executive director.
Mr Zack Kinuthia was appointed deputy secretary-general, while the organising secretary slot went to Mr Yassin Noor Haji. Mr Kembi Gitura was picked as director of elections.
Mr Ngunjiri has since successfully put the brakes on the registration of the new officials, with the Registrar of Political Parties writing to the Jubilee Party to first resolve the dispute.
An agitated Mr Kenyatta said: “I want to tell them that Jubilee leadership is known, and it is that list which has the recently installed officials.”
He added: “Those useless fellows should go and hawk their interests elsewhere, but not in my Jubilee Party.”
But in a quick rejoinder, Mr Ngunjiri expressed defiance.
“I respect his opinion as our party leader. But as a bona fide member of the Jubilee Party, I hold that the interests of our party are bigger than what the party leader might want. So we will continue to respect his opinion as our party leader, even as we chart the way forward for our party,” he said.
