By Anderson Ojwang
For the last one month, the immediate former President Uhuru Kenyatta has been calling shots in the country’s political landscape and is emerging as the new determinant of the terrain.
Former President Uhuru in the past had insisted that he recognizes Azimio La Umoja Raila Odinga as his leader despite losing to President William Ruto in the 2022 Presidential contest.
Uhuru’s long absence from the country had caused concern but his return back in October has stirred a new political wave in the country and power jostling and repositioning.
With Raila now occupied with his African Union chairperson bid, Uhuru finds himself as the main determinant and controller general of the current political processes and realignment in the country.
Raila had in the year said that he was exiting the local political scene for the international arena and handed his Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party instruments to Kisumu Governor Prof Anyang Nyong’o.
The vacuum left by Raila was so gaping that Kalonzo failed to tap in on the opportunity and Uhuru has returned to occupy the space and is currently the bride in the market at the moment.
In the months of November and December, Uhuru has engaged in a high-octane political activity by engaging with three top Kenya leaders who have been viewed as probable Presidential contestants in the 2027 general elections.
Uhuru first attended the wedding of Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s daughter which stirred political reactions with a section of Kenyans reading politics in it.
After the wedding at a function in Ukambani, impeached deputy president Rigathi Gachagua declared a possible political alliance with Kalonzo after what he termed as a betrayal of the mountain by President Ruto.
Uhuru’s key allies, former Cabinet minister Eugene Wamalwa and Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni have maintained that Uhuru support the Kalonzo-led team.
Then President William Ruto flew to Ichaweri village in Gatundu, Uhuru’s home, where they held a discussion that subsequently culminated in the appointment of the former president’s key allies into the cabinet.
Among the key allies included the Head of Azimio La Umoja Presidential Secretariat in the 2022 general elections and former Laikipia Governor Nderitu Murithi.
Murithi was appointed chairperson, of the Board of Directors, Kenya Revenue Authority where he takes over from Ruto’s key point man Mr Antony Mwaura who has been moved to chairperson of the Board of Directors Kenya Rural Roads Authority.
President Ruto again has brought into his fold, strategic allies of his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta, who he hopes will hold sway in Mt Kenya and will be capable of propagating the Kenya Kwanza government and the President’s agenda.
In his new cabinet appointments, President Ruto has brought key Uhuru allies who campaigned for Azimio La Umoja presidential candidate Raila Odinga in the last general election.
The new appointees include Mutahi Kagwe who was Health Minister in Uhuru’s regime and is now the cabinet secretary of Agriculture and Livestock Development.
Former Nakuru governor Lee Kinyanjui who lost the seat to Ruto’s close ally Susan Kihika, will now be the cabinet Secretary in the Ministry of Investments, Trade and Industry while former Kiambu Governor William Kabogo, another Uhuru ally, is the cabinet secretary of the Ministry of Information, Communication and Digital Economy.
President Ruto also appointed former Muranga senator and former deputy speaker in the 2013-2017 senate Kembi Gitura.
Kembi was also appointed Kemsa chair after he lost the election and was fired over an alleged scandal in procuring of covid 19 supplies.
On Friday, December 27, Uhuru was at the wedding of his former interior cabinet secretary Dr Fred Matiangi.
This came after Matiangi recently declared his presidential ambition for 2027.
Former Kenyan interior Cabinet minister Matiang’i seems to be seriously and quietly considering running for president in 2027, as he has hired a Montreal-based Canadian lobbying firm for $250,000 to garner international support.
According to documents filed by Dickens & Madson with the United States Department of Justice under the Foreign Agents Registration Act, Dr Matiang’i hired the company on 13 July 2024.
Like Dr Matiang’i, President Masisi of Botswana also enlisted the services of the same company on 10 July of this year, just three days earlier.
His recent victory as President of Botswana has sparked excitement, as it ended the ruling party’s 58-year hold on power.
Additionally, Mr. Dumo Buko succeeded in removing his predecessor after just one term.
Recently, Matiang’i sparked buzz and excitement among residents of Kitui days after declaring his interest in running for president in 2027.
Matiang’i toured the Eastern side of the nation on Friday while on his way from Katulani village where he had gone to condole with the family of his bodyguard Christopher Wambua who passed on in September.
The former CS made stopovers in different parts of the county, where he interacted with locals and hawkers along Kitui- Machakos road.
Political analyst and Nairobi based advocate Patrick Ouya said Uhuru’s political game was still on and Kenyans will by next year witness major political realignment.
At Matiangi’s daughter’s wedding, Uhuru was accompanied by his key allies namely former Laikipia Governor Murithi Nderitu, Jubilee Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni, former Solicitor General Njee Muturi, former Internal Security Permanent Secretary Dr.Kibichu and former MP David Murathe.
This was a powerful team. Uhuru carried all his troops to Matiangi’s daughter’s wedding but went alone to Kalonzo’s. He stayed longer than at Kalonzo’s. The game is still on.
Maybe he wants to create confusion, and scatter in the wrong direction. Gather them and will definitely declare his preferred candidate,” he argued.
Former Nyakach MP Ochieng Daima argued that Uhuru has realized of the vacuum left by Raila and wants to capitalise on it for the moment.
“Uhuru is playing the political game. But he is a man you cannot rely on his word and action to take you anywhere. He fears the mountain and will not go against its tide,” he said.
