By Anderson Ojwang
President William Ruto went bare-knuckle on his former boss, retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, terming him a rebel leader.
“He was the president of Kenya. Instead of going into retirement to be a statesman, you have turned yourself into a rebel leader, the leader of the opposition,” he said.
Ruto also said that Uhuru cannot defeat him in the 2027 presidential election after having defeated him in the 2022 General Election.
Ruto reminded Uhuru that he defeated him in the last General Election and that he lacks the capacity to defeat him this time.
Ruto wondered how Uhuru could defeat him in the 2027 presidential election now that he is the President.
“If I defeated you when you were the president, how can you defeat me now when you are in retirement? Surely, that can never happen,” he said.
But former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua told Ruto his victory was achieved through him, Gachagua, and the people, and was not an individual achievement.
“Mr William Ruto, I have heard you brag and fallaciously argue that Rtd. President Uhuru Kenyatta did not defeat you when he was President and that he can’t defeat you now that he is retired.
Put logically, you were elected President despite President Uhuru Kenyatta having been against you.
Let me remind you, because memory seems to fail you; you were not elected as President because President Uhuru Kenyatta failed to defeat you. No!” he said.
Ruto termed his former boss as a rebel who has refused to retire as a statesman and was busy sponsoring an outfit to challenge him in the 2027 elections.
Ruto said it was a shame that the court had to force Uhuru out of the political terrain.
“You have refused to retire honourably as a statesman and you continue to sponsor the opposition against me. I will defeat you once again,” he said.
Ruto said it was shameful that the High Court had to give a directive on the former President’s engagement in politics.
But Gachagua said Uhuru did not sufficiently convince him and a majority of Kenyans that Ruto was incapable of leading the country.
“Today, you have proven to me and the whole country that President Uhuru was right. Based on that, he has no further role in convincing us that we must get rid of you on 10th August 2027 at the ballot,” he said.
Gachagua told Ruto that Uhuru was not his opponent in this election and should stop the politics of deflection.
“55 million Kenyans are your opponents. These are your real opponents, and you should not confuse them with the shadow of President Uhuru Kenyatta,” he said.
Recently, Uhuru has said Kenyans will independently decide who to elect in the 2027 General Election, saying no voter should be forced to support a particular political side.
Uhuru made the remarks on Sunday, August 23, 2026, while speaking at a memorial service for former Vice-President Michael Kijana Wamalwa in Kitale, Trans Nzoia County.
“Jameni… Jameni chungeni. Mimi sitaki kuitwa sponsor bana. Mimi sitaki mambo ming” (I don’t want to be called the sponsor), he said.
Uhuru supported the Azimio La Umoja presidential candidate, the late Raila Amolo Odinga, in the last General Election. Uhuru has remained the leader of the Azimio La Umoja coalition.
Ruto criticised Orengo Gor for being a merchant for Uhuru and a stooge of Uhuru for having allowed himself to play a low-fiddle role.
Court ruling
The High Court upheld a law restricting former presidents from holding political party office beyond six months after leaving State House.
And subsequently, Uhuru cleared the way for the handover of the Jubilee Party chairmanship.
In a statement on Tuesday, the Office of the 4th President of the Republic of Kenya said Uhuru had received the ruling with respect for the Judiciary and was ready to have the handover completed openly, lawfully and in line with the party constitution.
“Uhuru Kenyatta has received this ruling in a spirit of profound respect for the Judiciary. He notes that the court’s ruling is not a restriction on his political life; it is a reaffirmation of our democratic maturity,” the office spokesperson, Kanze Dena, said.
Dena added that the former President recognised that leadership was not defined by the position held but by the trust built among the people.
The development follows a ruling by Justice Lawrence Mugambi upholding Section 6(1) of the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act, which states that a retired president cannot hold office in a political party for more than six months after leaving the presidency.
The court, however, clarified that the provision does not stop retired presidents from belonging to political parties or taking part in political activities.
“A reading of Section 6 (1) is clear, as was strongly submitted by the respondents and the Interested parties; it does not forbid the retired President from being a member of a political party, what it restricts is taking up a leadership role in the political party for more than six months after retiring,” Justice Mugambi said.
The ruling comes amid a long-running leadership dispute in Jubilee Party, where Uhuru has been the party leader since its formation in 2017 and retained the position after leaving State House in September 2022.
In May 2023, a faction of party members declared his position vacant and installed nominated MP Sabina Chege as acting party leader, citing the six-month restriction.
The move resulted in competing claims over who had authority to convene party meetings, remove officials and communicate with the Registrar of Political Parties. Uhuru’s allies rejected the changes, saying the process went against the party constitution.
Azimio La Umoja
In a press statement on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, Wiper Leader Kalonzo Musyoka said Uhuru’s acceptance of the court ruling does not shut him out of politics, noting that the former President remains free to belong to a political party and participate in its activities.
The Azimio leader was responding to Uhuru’s decision to relinquish his leadership of the Jubilee Party following the judgment delivered by Justice Lawrence Mugambi on Monday, September 14, 2026.
Kalonzo welcomed the retired President’s decision to respect the ruling, describing it as a demonstration of statesmanship and respect for the Judiciary.
