Kithure Kindiki Makes Appeal to Uhuru Kenyatta Days after Ruto's Attacks
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Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has appealed to retired President Uhuru Kenyatta to steer clear of active politics, urging him instead to embrace his role as a statesman above the political fray.
Speaking Saturday, August 22, during the Mt Kenya East Grassroots Leaders event at Kinoru Stadium in Meru town, Kindiki said Kenya's only living retired head of state carries a responsibility that goes beyond partisan politics, and warned against his legacy being exploited by individuals with divisive agendas.
"We are asking our retired president, Uhuru Kenyatta, to continue being a statesman who counsels the country because he is the only retired president. We don't want him to be misused in politics that incite and divide the country," Kindiki stated.
Kindiki's remarks come at a time when President William Ruto has repeatedly and more directly accused Uhuru of bankrolling opposition figures ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Uhuru's camp, led by his Jubilee Party, has dismissed.
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Kindiki, however, opted for a more conciliatory tone, framing his appeal as a call to safeguard Uhuru's standing rather than as a direct political attack.
"As a retired president, he should be there us our go-to leader who can help the country. We can't afford him to be used by characters who want to advance their partisan things and soil his legacy," he added.
Kindiki further likened the dignity of retirement from public office to that of a family elder who continues to guide and watch over his household, drawing on Uhuru's years of experience at the helm of government as a resource the country could still draw from in a non-partisan capacity.
"When you retire from work, that is a big honour, it is like being a family man who now watches over his family and children, because he has a lot of experience," Kindiki said.
His comments follow days of escalating rhetoric from Ruto, who, speaking in Eldoret on Thursday, August 13, accused Uhuru of funding candidates positioning themselves to challenge his re-election bid in 2027.
Ruto claimed his predecessor was driven by envy over achievements in sectors he had failed to deliver on during his own decade in office, including the Affordable Housing programme, Universal Health Coverage, and education funding.
"When you look at their sponsor, didn't he fail to deliver on Affordable Housing, Universal Healthcare Coverage, and Education? Now he has gone to sponsor his protégés to come and compete with me. I will defeat them early in the morning because they have no plan, agenda, policies or vision," Ruto stated.
Ruto also dismissed calls from sections of the political class for him to serve only one term, terming such demands as rooted in tribalism, and maintained that his administration had distributed development equitably across all regions of the country, unlike previous governments.
Reporting originally appeared via Nairobi Leo. Read the full source for additional context.