By Anderson Ojwang
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta is not done with his mission. He is back to the drawing board and strategically calculating the 2027 presidential contest.
For the second term, Uhuru will face off with his former deputy and ally-turned bitter political rival, President William Ruto.
Despite the defeat of Azimio la Umoja in the 2022 presidential election, Uhuru is back in the ring, this time more battle-hardened and strategic.
Uhuru, having learnt a hard lesson after his preferred presidential candidate, the enigma Raila Amolo Odinga, lost to Kenya Kwanza candidate President William Ruto by 200,000 votes, is not leaving anything to chance.
This time, Uhuru has his eyes firmly set on the presidency, and that is why he has crafted a raft of strategies and changes within the coalition.
First, Uhuru has moved to revitalise his Jubilee Party and made significant changes and appointments in the leadership.
Uhuru appointed former Cabinet Secretary Dr Fred Matiang’i as his deputy in the party and a probable presidential candidate.
He equally moved Jeremiah Kioni from the position of Secretary-General and replaced him with Mr Richard Moitalel ole Kenta.
“The Jubilee Party National Executive Committee, under the leadership of Uhuru Kenyatta, is pleased to announce the appointment of former Narok North MP Mr Richard Moitalel ole Kenta as the party Secretary-General.”
In November last year, Uhuru had admonished Kioni for what he termed as “insults” against Rigathi Gachagua.
“And you, Kioni. This habit of routinely seeing you online insulting other leaders — this or that, sometimes Gachagua — what for? I don’t want that kind of rubbish,” he said.
“Anyone using my party to insult others will have to go. I will ensure you are kicked out, and you will have to go and get yourself another party to propagate that kind of rubbish.”
Kioni was seen as a critic of DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua and an antagonist in Mt Kenya politics.
Uhuru has equally agreed to a political truce with his former personal assistant, Rigathi. The two have united and are likely to lock President Ruto’s UDA out of the Mt Kenya region.
Gachagua, in a recent TV interview, downplayed his past political attacks on Uhuru, saying his criticism during the 2022 campaigns was purely part of the rough-and-tumble of politics and not driven by personal animosity.
“Campaigning was campaigning; when you are campaigning, there are no rules. It’s rough and nothing personal, really. We were just looking for leadership,” he said. “The things that were said then dropped immediately when the election was over. You don’t bother about them.”
Gachagua, who has since fallen out with Ruto, been impeached, and is now eyeing the country’s top seat in 2027, said politics should not be taken personally, describing election campaigns as “not a church affair or a wedding.”
“When you’re looking for votes, you come up with all sorts of issues against your opponents. And really, there is nothing personal. Once the elections are over, you move on,” he said.
Recently, Kalonzo negotiated a handshake between Uhuru and Gachagua, which is a force likely to lock out President Ruto in Mt Kenya.
Yesterday, Uhuru made changes in Azimio la Umoja by appointing Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka as the leader of the coalition.
He also sacked immediate former Secretary-General Junet Mohamed and replaced him with Suba South MP Caroli Omondi.
The appointment of Kalonzo is likely to trigger political excitement within the united opposition and give a clear signal of a possible presidential line-up to face off with Ruto.
“I graciously accept my appointment as Party Leader of Azimio La Umoja One Kenya Coalition. I thank our chairman, President Uhuru Kenyatta, the coalition leadership, and all constituent parties for this trust. I congratulate my colleagues entrusted with various leadership positions.
Azimio continues to represent the hopes of millions who believe in justice, inclusivity, and a Kenya that works for everyone. We welcome other like-minded individuals and parties to join us as the government in waiting.
This is bigger than any individual; it is about Kenya. I urge my fellow countrymen and women not to despair. Together, we will offer principled leadership focused on national renewal,” he wrote on his social media handles.
The removal of Junet, who was recently accused of undermining Raila’s presidential bid, and his replacement with Caroli is seen as a powerful statement.
Recently, ODM Secretary-General Edwin Sifuna accused Junet of misappropriating agents’ funds and bungling Raila’s campaigns.
Sifuna also accused the party’s Director of Elections, Junet Mohamed, of allegedly failing to pay presidential agents.
Sifuna blamed Junet for undermining Raila’s chances of forming the government in the 2022 general election.
“We are now mourning. If it was not for you, we could have formed the government,” Sifuna said.
Sifuna, who spoke at a funeral in Mt Kenya, demanded a thorough audit of the 2022 presidential campaigns.
“The day we will start the audit of the 2022 elections, it is good you have started the debate. Let everyone say their contributions in the 2022 general elections,” he said.
Junet denied the accusations and instead blamed former President Uhuru Kenyatta, whom he accused of appointing his blood brother, Muhoho Kenyatta, to manage the agents’ funds.
“The answer is simple, clear and verifiable: Former President Uhuru Kenyatta released the funds meant for election agents to his blood brother, Muhoho Kenyatta,” he said.
Similarly, former United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary-General Cleophas Malala claimed that Junet was Ruto’s “agent” in Raila’s team and leaked ODM agents’ data.
“Junet Mohammed has been Raila’s right-hand man for a very long epoch. He was the one managing and ensuring Baba took his medicine on time. He was closer to Baba than even his children.
I want to confirm here, in this interview today, I was William Ruto’s right-hand man. We were in UDA; at night, Junet used to come and see William Ruto.
Brief him on everything. We even had the list of agents for ODM across the country. We knew who was going to be an ODM agent in which place courtesy of Junet,” he claimed.
Similarly, the Azimio La Umoja Volunteer Board, through one of its members, Ronny Raburu, accused Junet of shedding crocodile tears when he failed to address the Central Kenya agents’ issue.
Ronny Raburu said that despite addressing the agents’ issue with Raila at a breakfast meeting and detailing Junet to urgently handle the matter, the latter went mute.
Raila’s chief agent during the August 9 elections, Saitabao Kanchory, claimed that Raila only listened to one person — Suna East MP Junet Mohamed.
“We could not have lost this election if it weren’t for three people. The first one is Junet Mohamed, the second is Joe Mucheru, and the third is Makau Mutua. These are people I have worked with and respect, but in terms of responsibility, they take the highest responsibility,” he said on NTV.
