Ruto: Uhuru Has Never Accepted 2022 Election Defeat

President William Ruto has accused former president Uhuru Kenyatta of refusing to accept his defeat in the 2022 election and of continuing to interfere in opposition politics.

Speaking at State House, Ruto said Uhuru’s involvement in opposition activities was driven by frustration after losing the election. He claimed the former president had expected the Kenya Kwanza administration to collapse within months of taking office.

Ruto cited lower inflation, more stable interest and exchange rates and improved investor confidence as evidence that his government had performed better than expected. “The country did not default. The tattered economy that he left is in a different place today,” Ruto said. 

He also claimed that Kenya had become Africa’s sixth-largest economy under his administration. The President’s remarks followed renewed debate over Uhuru’s role in opposition politics after the former president chaired an Azimio meeting earlier this month. Ruto accused him of helping efforts to unite opposition parties ahead of the 2027 election.

The relationship between the two leaders deteriorated after Ruto was excluded from Uhuru’s succession plans. Ruto subsequently ran against Azimio candidate Raila Odinga in the 2022 presidential election and won with 50.5 per cent of the vote. The Supreme Court later upheld the result.

During a visit to Eldoret, Ruto also questioned Uhuru’s record on housing, healthcare and education. He argued that the former president had failed to address the same issues he now criticises the current administration over.

Ruto also recalled Uhuru’s prediction that the Kenya Kwanza government would fail within three months. He said the administration had instead stabilised the economy and expanded social programmes.

Uhuru has rejected claims that he is financing opposition politicians or seeking a return to active politics. Speaking in Kitale during a memorial service for former vice-president Michael Kijana Wamalwa, he said Kenyans would decide who should lead the country in 2027.

“It’s the people who will decide. If they say it is Kalonzo, Ruto, Matiang’i, or Sifuna, it will be so. I don’t want to be called a sponsor; I have just said the power belongs to the people,” Uhuru said.

The former president said serving as president had been a privilege granted to him by Kenyans and that he was prepared to leave the choice of future leaders to voters. He also urged Kenyans to reject political division and intimidation and called for unity and respect during the election period.

Meanwhile, opposition figures including Rigathi Gachagua, Kalonzo Musyoka, Fred Matiang’i and Eugene Wamalwa are working to build a coalition capable of challenging Ruto. Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, who recently unveiled his People’s Party of Kenya, have also criticised the government’s record.

The opposition has focused on what it considers unfulfilled promises made during the 2022 campaign. Some leaders have also pledged to abolish programmes such as the Affordable Housing initiative and the Social Health Authority.

Ruto has dismissed these proposals as lacking alternative solutions. He defended his “hustler” and “bottom-up” agenda, saying it had produced programmes with direct benefits for ordinary Kenyans.

He cited the Hustler Fund, which he said had provided Sh90 billion in loans to 27 million Kenyans. “Hustler was not a slogan. Hustler was a fund,” he said.

Ruto challenged his opponents to present alternative policies instead of promising to abolish existing programmes. He said voters would ultimately assess leaders based on their ability to improve the country.