By Anderson Ojwang
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has returned to the political battlefield and reignited the 2022 General Election’s narrative of the hustler nation against the dynasty. Uhuru now wants to serve the narrative raw to his successor in the 2027 brawl.
In the 2022 presidential contest, the Kenya Kwanza presidential candidate rode on the hustler narrative to whip the emotions of the electorate to his fold.
Ruto’s narrative of the hustlers pitted against the Azimio la Umoja presidential candidate, the late Raila Amolo Odinga, and his key sponsor, then President Uhuru.
Both Uhuru, Raila and KANU Chairman Gideon Moi, who was also supporting Raila’s presidency, were clumped together as the dynasty.
“Wakasema sijui kuna mambo hapa sijui ya ma-hustler ambao wanatetea na wamekaliwa sijui na mabwanyenye ambao tulikuwa tunaitwa ‘dynasty’.”
According to Uhuru, the narrative was accompanied by repeated falsehoods about his administration and the BBI process.
“Wakazunguka na uongo na uongo na uongo na uongo.”
Uhuru’s father, the late Mzee Jomo Kenyatta, and Raila’s father, the late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, were the founding fathers of the nation, with the former becoming the first president and the latter as his vice.
Equally, Moi became the second president, and the three families have been viewed as the country’s dynasties.
On Tuesday, 21st 2026, Uhuru, in what appeared as an open battle with Ruto after a series of attacks from the latter, lobbed his missile at the incumbent, questioning the validity of the narrative.
Uhuru said his political handshake with Raila was meant to unite the country and create harmony.
“We went into handshake to drive the country to prosperity and we had peace. Someone came with the false narrative of the hustler narrative. They traversed the country selling the narrative,” he said.
Uhuru asked what has happened to the promises that were made to the hustlers and why some people are now the dynasty.
“With Raila we came up with BBI to unite the country but they ensured it collapsed and spread the false narrative of hustlers. They claimed to be fighting for the right of the hustlers against the dynasties. They traversed with false narrative. Who are the genuine hustlers and dynasties?” he quipped.
Ruto cast himself as a “hustler”, fighting what he regards as an attempt by two of Kenya’s biggest dynasties – the Kenyattas and Odingas – to hang on to power.
Trying to evoke the sympathy of Kenyans, he has prayed, wept and made the incendiary claim that President Kenyatta was threatening him.
“As long as you don’t kill my children I shall face you but please let’s respect each other,” Mr Ruto said, at one of his final campaign rallies as a crowd cheered him on.
Tanga Tanga
Uhuru revisited his fallout with Ruto, saying he stopped working and was engaged in politics and labelled Ruto as Tanga Tanga.
“Some stop helping me with work. You people know their agenda,” he said at a press conference.
Ruto then tactfully adopted the decision to embrace President Kenyatta’s “Tanga Tanga” and turned it into a political tool.
His allies also weaponised the remarks to rebrand Ruto as a working deputy president.
Ruto generously accepted the terminology which had been widely disregarded by his supporters.
His allies, including South Mugirango MP Sylvanus Osoro, then announced their intention to use the remarks as a movement.
“It is a good gesture. As team Tanga Tanga, we are not offended and we are using this as a movement ahead of 2022,” Osoro said then.
North Mugirango MP Joash Nyamoko added: “The remarks were an encouragement. The president is aware that his deputy is working.”
Tactful move, battle of emotions.
Uhuru is on a tactful move to serve President Ruto the same dish he served the Azimio la Umoja Coalition and will be using the hustler narrative to whip the emotions of the electorate against the incumbent.
Already, Uhuru opened his attack on his successor by claiming that he believed the late Raila Odinga won the 2022 presidential elections.
Uhuru said, “We supported Raila as Jubilee and members of the Azimio Coalition and we did all that to make him president,” he said.
Uhuru said he believed Raila won the elections and that the truth will finally come out.
“Raila won the election. I am convinced he won the presidential elections. I know that, we know, those who want to know, know the truth, you,” he said.
Uhuru said Azimio la Umoja won the majority of MPs, Senators and governors’ seats against President Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza.
“We had more MPs than the coalition. We had more senators and governors than the other coalition. How did we lose this? We know how it went and we do not want to go that route again,” he said.
I defeated Uhuru
Last week, during President Ruto’s tour of Nyanza, 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 Uhuru dismissed Ruto’s claims that he defeated him in the last General Election, saying he was not on the ballot.
“Some people say we didn’t win. I believe Raila won the elections. They said they defeated me. Was it not Raila on the ballot? Uhuru was not on the ballot. Why are you dividing the country through the politics of division?” he said.
We respected the Supreme Court
Uhuru said even if they did not agree with the Supreme Court ruling which upheld Ruto’s victory, he presided over a peaceful transfer of power.
“I will speak my truth. After the election and the Supreme Court gave verdict. We did not reject it and in a broad daylight we gave them instrument of power. There was no violence,” he said.
Uhuru wondered why Ruto and his allies kept on abusing and accusing him of their own failures.
“After four years, they keep on saying Uhuru this and that. Were you elected to talk about Uhuru? If it is not working, you must look for an object to blame and that is Uhuru Kenyatta. Kenyans know so well.”
