KENYATTA REVIVES 2022 ELECTION DISPUTE, SAYS ODINGA 'WON' AS UDA HITS BACK

Speaking during a Jubilee Party National Executive Council meeting in Nairobi, where he handed over party leadership to former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, Kenyatta insisted that Azimio la Umoja had secured the necessary votes.

“We did everything we could to help Baba become the President of our Republic of Kenya. We did everything. And votes were cast, and to this day, I know that he won that election. I know that. We know, we know!” Kenyatta said. He added that he was merely “Raila’s handyman” at the time and pointed to Azimio’s strong performance in gubernatorial, senatorial and parliamentary races as evidence that the presidential outcome did not fully reflect the broader will of voters. He further warned against a repeat of “how things went.”

The remarks mark one of the most direct public challenges by the retired head of state to the legitimacy of the 2022 results more than four years after the Supreme Court upheld Ruto’s victory.



UDA leaders responded swiftly and forcefully. In a statement, UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar accused Kenyatta of living “in a fool’s paradise” and failing to accept the outcome.



“Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta continues to live and wallow in a fool’s paradise. William Ruto conclusively won the 2022 election and defeated Uhuru’s illegal, devious and evil plans,” Omar stated. He claimed Kenyatta had never healed from “the humiliating defeat” suffered by Odinga and accused the former president of deploying state machinery in an unsuccessful bid to influence the polls. Omar also referenced alleged threats against then-IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati and events at the Bomas of Kenya on August 15, 2022.



Kibwezi West MP Mwengi Mutuse, speaking at a rally in Makindu, told Kenyatta that Kenyans had made their own decision at the ballot. “You were the President then. You supported Raila Odinga. You told him many things, but Kenyans made their own decision. We will not allow you to fool other leaders in Kenya,” Mutuse said. Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi also joined the criticism, questioning why the former president was revisiting the settled matter.

Official Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission results showed Ruto securing 7,176,141 votes (50.49 per cent) against Odinga’s 6,942,930 (48.85 per cent). The Supreme Court dismissed petitions challenging the outcome and affirmed Ruto’s election. Ruto was sworn in on September 13, 2022.

UDA further argued that Ruto had been instrumental in Kenyatta’s own victories in 2013 and 2017, stating that the former president “owes his two terms” to the current head of state. The party projected another decisive win for Ruto in the 2027 general election.

Kenyatta’s comments come amid ongoing political realignments as Kenya prepares for the next polls. The former president’s relationship with Ruto collapsed after Kenyatta backed Odinga instead of his then-deputy in the 2022 succession race. The renewed exchanges are expected to intensify political temperatures in the coming months.