Uhuru Reopens Debate Over 2022 Election, Says Raila Won

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has renewed debate over Kenya's 2022 presidential election, saying he remains convinced that Raila Odinga won enough votes to defeat William Ruto.

Uhuru backed Odinga in the 2022 election and said he and other allies had made extensive efforts to support his presidential campaign. He also argued that the events surrounding the election should not be repeated. 

The Supreme Court settled the legal dispute on 5 September 2022, unanimously dismissing petitions challenging Ruto's victory. The court upheld his election after then Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman Wafula Chebukati declared him the winner with 50.4 per cent of the vote, compared with Odinga's 48.8 per cent.

Uhuru's latest assessment is therefore a political interpretation of the election rather than a change to the legally established result. The renewed debate has also revived disagreements within the former Azimio la Umoja coalition over the campaign's organisation. These have included questions about the recruitment and payment of polling agents, campaign coordination and the management of election funds.

Several former campaign officials and political figures have offered different explanations for the defeat. Saitabao Kanchory, who served as Odinga's chief agent, previously argued that the campaign structure had been weakened by competing interests. Jubilee Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni, meanwhile, attributed some of the problems to the conduct of the electoral process and cited alleged irregularities at a polling station in Karatina.

Other leaders have defended people who came under scrutiny. Embakasi East MP Babu Owino rejected allegations against Suna East MP Junet Mohamed and questioned the circumstances that contributed to the political split between Uhuru and Ruto after years of cooperation.

The dispute resurfaced in January 2026 when Junet rejected allegations that he had mishandled money intended for ODM election agents. Responding to claims by Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, Junet said responsibility for failing to deploy and pay agents lay elsewhere.

Junet alleged that Uhuru had released funds to his brother and that another person had later been given responsibility for organising agents. He said the individual had presented himself as an information-technology specialist capable of identifying electoral manipulation.

Those allegations remain claims made by Junet and have been contested as part of the wider political dispute. Odinga himself made an important statement on the issue shortly after the election. In September 2022, he said the management of polling agents was not responsible for his defeat. He argued that the constitutional responsibility for conducting elections and protecting their integrity rested with the IEBC and other institutions. He also rejected claims that Junet had controlled money intended for agents.

Uhuru's latest comments have therefore added to an unresolved dispute over the reasons for Azimio's defeat. The competing accounts focus on campaign organisation, internal decisions, electoral administration or a combination of these factors. The Supreme Court established the legal outcome of the election but did not resolve every political disagreement over the campaign and the conduct of the election.

Uhuru has also become more outspoken in response to Ruto's criticism of his administration. During the handover of Jubilee Party leadership, he questioned why the president continued to refer to his predecessor several years into his own term.

Uhuru pointed to the peaceful transfer of power after the 2022 election as evidence that his administration accepted the result and handed over state authority without confrontation. He argued that Ruto's mandate should now be focused on governing the country rather than attributing current difficulties to the previous administration.

The dispute is taking place as political activity intensifies ahead of the 2027 general election. Ruto has accused Kenyatta of supporting opposition activity and has described him in political terms, including as a "sponsor" and "rebel leader". Uhuru has rejected those descriptions and said he intends to continue speaking publicly despite the criticism.

The former president has also defended the record of his administration, saying it delivered major projects despite economic and institutional challenges, including the disruption caused by the Covid-19 pandemic. He acknowledged that his government made mistakes but argued that its record should be assessed in the context of the circumstances it faced.

Uhuru has similarly defended the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), which was launched during his presidency with Odinga as a central political partner. He continues to describe BBI as an effort to address inequalities in the distribution of national resources and expand the benefits of Kenya's economic development.

The political context has also changed following a High Court ruling on the role of retired presidents in political parties. On 14 September, Justice Lawrence Mugambi upheld legislation restricting former presidents from holding formal party leadership positions beyond six months after leaving State House.

The ruling does not prevent former presidents from belonging to political parties or taking part in political activity. Uhuru has since indicated that he will facilitate the transfer of Jubilee's leadership in accordance with the law.