Former President Uhuru Kenyatta's public support for the youth, mostly Gen Z, in their quest for reforms, has drawn mixed reactions as some consider it an attack against President William Ruto’s administration.
While allies of President Ruto downplayed the significance of the former president's remarks, saying he was only encouraging the youth not to give up on their dreams, allies of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua were thrilled, reading the comments as the beginning of the end of the renewed camaraderie between Dr Ruto and Mr Kenyatta.
Similarly, the comments made at the funeral of the ex-president’s cousin Kibathi Muigai in Ichaweri, Kiambu County, on January 17, seem to have split those close to the former president.
According to Mr Kenyatta's cousin Kung'u Muigai, the former Head of State was addressing a family member, not the national population.
"The brother I was burying on Friday has a daughter called Ms Ngina Kibathi, 34, who works in Canada. In her speech, she had declared an interest to run for an elective post," Mr Muigai said.
"She (Ngina) had challenged her uncle Uhuru to intervene and urge the old guards in the family with political ambitions to give them way. It is in that context that Mr Kenyatta was addressing the audience, not attached to any political formation battling for space ahead of 2027," he said.
Mr Kenyatta’s shocker came at a time when the Gen-Z and other young people are fighting against bad governance in general – and abductions and extrajudicial killings in particular— perceived to be done by the government.
"The problem with some is peddling fear... Nothing lasts forever. Gen Z, you are the story of the future. Fight for your rights, people. Do not just sit idly by and see everything you’ve worked for being taken away; do not let it happen. Stay the course to make sure you get your right,” Mr Kenyatta said, urging young people to confront issues without fear.
But Mr Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni says his boss meant exactly what he said and on a national scale.
“The speech was setting of record straight that Uhuru Kenyatta has never departed the terraces of the citizens in pursuing good governance. All those who think Uhuru Kenyatta can be among those to be manipulated and be recruited to give a helping hand in salvaging a sinking ship need no further evidence of the impossibility of that wish," said Mr Kioni.
Uhuru to Gen Zs: Fight for your rights
He said the meeting between Mr Kenyatta and President Ruto in Gatundu in December 2024 did not in any way mean that it was the start of a new alliance between the two presidential partners in 2013 and who ruled together till 2022 when Dr Ruto won the presidency.
"I can, without fear of contradiction, tell you that the meeting between the two had no sinister motives. Our party leader has never been interested in being co-opted into government or helping the incumbent rule," Mr Kioni said.
He added that Mr Kenyatta is only interested in offering recommendations to the government and Kenyans as a statesman.
But in Mr Gachagua’s corner, it was all jubilation.
Trans Nzoia Governor George Natembeya was drawn into the debate, saying Mr Kenyatta had shown he is a ‘statesman’.
“He was addressing familiar quarters known for their penchant for peddling fear," he said.
Mumias East MP Mr Peter Salasya quipped that President Ruto has been left at a crossroads by Mr Kenyatta.
In the new-look cabinet, President Ruto picked former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo as Cabinet Secretary for Information, Communication, and the Digital Economy and Mr Mutahi Kagwe for the Agriculture docket.
Former Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui landed the Cabinet Secretary for Investment, Trade, and Industry slot. Others include former Murang'a Senator Kembi Gitura (board chairman for the Kenyatta University Teaching and Referral Hospital), former Laikipia governor Ndiritu Muriithi (Kenya Revenue Authority board chairman) and former Gatanga MP Peter Kenneth (chairman of Kenya Bureau of Standards Council) to mark what was seen as an integration of the Kenyatta camp into government.
“We are happy especially here in Mt Kenya that our two most influential leaders have joined hands to support our youths currently under siege by the Ruto Administration," said Manyatta MP Gitonga Mukunji.
He added: "Uhuru Kenyatta could not have been talking of anything else apart from the raging extrajudicial killings, abductions and enforced disappearances that have been going on with utter impunity and believed to be by security agents".
Mr Mukunji added: "Just like the way Rigathi Gachagua’s corner has been voicing concern, this country cannot be ruled in a way that makes stifling the youths' voice a policy".
Former Gatanga MP Mr Nduati Ngugi, who belongs to Mr Kenyatta's Jubilee Party, said the former president cannot be said to have spoken out of turn.
"I also want to confirm to you that Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi and the former president are close buddies. Mr Kenyatta will never join hands with those harassing his family and friends, affronting justice and defiling humanity," Mr Ngugi said, referring to recent comments by Mr Muturi on the wave of abductions that turned personal when his son was abducted and only released after reportedly after President Ruto’s intervention.
But former Mungiki chairman Maina Njenga, who has recently declared support for Dr Ruto in the battle for Mt Kenya region said "the former president's speech was straightforward".
"He strongly spoke to the youth without indicating whether he was targeting those who support who in the political space. All the youth in this country (no matter who they support) must be bold in demanding good governance for the common good,” said Mr Njenga.
This, as youth leaders urged Kenyans not to "politicise Mr Kenyatta's good mentorship speech in favour of the youth".
"We at the National Democratic Congress wish not to see Mr Kenyatta as a sectarian politician but a statesman who spoke like a reasonable leader, a statesman and a parent who even urged his own daughter by name to join the agitation for reasonable government," said National Democratic Congress Youths’ National chairman Ms Gladys Njoroge.
Mbeere North MP Mr Geoffrey Ruku said the country has become one big minefield where nearly everything, including the national anthem, is being tagged to sectarian politics.
Mr Ruku said: "We should learn to listen to our leaders with openness of mind and take their counsel as wisdom befitting us all instead of trying to compartmentalise them to apply to certain political formations".
He added that Mr Kenyatta “spoke in good faith, never resorted to sloganeering and never campaigned for anyone.”
“His was simply good talk in an environment where the youth feel left out," said the MP.
