NAIROBI, Kenya — Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has publicly criticized his successor, William Ruto, accusing him of being intolerant of dissenting voices. Speaking at the Jubilee Party’s National Delegates Conference (NDC) in Nairobi, Uhuru pointed to the government’s heavy-handed response to recent Gen Z protests as a key example.
He argued that effective leadership stems from a willingness to learn from past mistakes and build a unified future for all, rather than advancing the “class politics of the ‘haves’ and ‘have-nots.'”
Uhuru stressed that such an approach is vital for a nation to thrive in a rapidly changing world. “This requires always having an open mind and a listening ear, even to those you disagree with—and especially to the voices of our younger generations,” he said.
He added that this balance of inclusivity and dialogue is what prevents a nation from being “trapped in despair” and instead fosters a sense of hope and peace.
The former president lamented that this message of unity was rejected during the last general elections.
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“In the last general elections, I endeavoured to pass this message. Unfortunately, it fell on deaf ears and was drowned out by insults, character assassinations, myths, and stories of dynasties and hustlers,” he stated.
According to Uhuru, this change in leadership philosophy has led to the erosion of many achievements from his administration. He specifically cited the collapse of foundational programs like Linda Mama, which he said have been replaced by “untested schemes.”
“And while we wait for these experiments to work, Kenyans suffer and our progress is retarded,” he said.
Uhuru and Ruto, who were once political allies under the “UhuRuto” partnership during the 2013 elections, had a significant falling out ahead of the 2022 polls, when Uhuru supported ODM leader Raila Odinga.
Their relationship has remained strained since Ruto’s narrow victory, leaving little doubt that Uhuru believes his successor has failed to live up to expectations.
