Uhuru: ‘To this day, I know Raila won in 2022’

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta declared on Tuesday that Raila Odinga emerged victorious in the 2022 presidential election, despite the official results proclaiming President William Ruto as the winner. Speaking during the Jubilee Party's handover as he relinquished his leadership role, Uhuru emphasized that he and Jubilee members had done everything in their power to support Raila's presidential bid.

He questioned how his faction could have lost the election, citing the number of MPs, senators, and other positions secured by the coalition. "How can they say they won when we had more MPs than any of those other parties? We had more senators than them. We had more positions than them. How else did we lose?" Uhuru queried. He also contested the notion that the 2022 election was a simple duel between him and Ruto, asking directly, "Was Uhuru Kenyatta on the ballot, or was it Raila Odinga on the ballot?"

Uhuru clarified that he was merely a supporter of Raila and questioned why political opponents continued to portray the election as a setback for him. He recounted how Jubilee collaborated with Raila after the 2018 handshake and subsequently backed his presidential campaign, all in the name of fostering unity and averting political strife.

"We did everything we could to help Baba become the President of our Republic of Kenya. We did it all," Uhuru stated. His remarks reignited a controversy that has lingered since the August 2022 election, with Raila and some of his allies previously contesting the official results. The Supreme Court, however, rejected the 2022 presidential election petitions and confirmed the declared outcome.

Uhuru also returned to a key theme from the 2022 campaign, the "hustlers versus dynasties" dichotomy, questioning who truly fits into each category. "My people, today I ask myself: Who are the real hustlers, and who are the dynasties?" he pondered, eliciting laughter from the audience. He criticized politicians for inciting divisive politics and cautioned against fracturing Kenya's communities.

"Can this Nairobi exist without the Kamba, Kikuyu, Kisii, Luo, Luhya, Kalenjin, Coastal people, Somali everyone?" Uhuru inquired. "That's what makes Nairobi," he asserted. The comments were made as Uhuru officially stepped down from Jubilee's top position and supported former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i to take over, with Uhuru promising to transition into a senior advisory role while remaining a Jubilee member.

He described Matiang'i as a wise, diligent leader who loves Kenyans and harbors no ill will. He then explicitly called on Jubilee members to accept Matiang'i and take his place, receiving a resounding affirmative from the audience. Uhuru also implored Jubilee to commence early preparations for the 2027 election, including selecting candidates for MCA, governor, Senate, and parliamentary seats, as well as identifying a presidential contender capable of engaging with other political entities.

Despite relinquishing the formal party leadership position, Uhuru emphasized that he would not vanish from Jubilee. "I'm going nowhere. I am still a Jubilee member," he affirmed. His handover transpired following a High Court ruling that prohibited retired presidents from holding formal political party leadership positions beyond six months after leaving the presidency, although it permitted them to participate in political parties.