By James Murimi - Seasoned journalist and a media consultant in Kenya
Kenya, 9 May 2026 - From their graves, Kenya’s late former Presidents – Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel arap Moi and Mwai Kibaki – could perhaps be watching with astonishment as their successor, former President Uhuru Kenyatta, finds himself in an escalating political confrontation with the very regime he peacefully handed power to in 2022.
For decades, Kenya’s retired presidents largely faded into the background after leaving office, adopting quiet elder-statesman roles and rarely engaging in direct political combat with their successors. But Uhuru’s post-presidency journey is unfolding differently.
Rather than retreating into political silence, the former Head of State has steadily re-emerged as one of the most influential and controversial voices in the country’s political landscape ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Yet the irony of the unfolding political tension lies in the manner through which power changed hands.
On 13 September 2022, at the Moi International Sports Centre, Kasarani, Uhuru oversaw one of Kenya’s most symbolic democratic transitions as he handed over power to President William Ruto following a fiercely contested election.
The ceremony, attended by more than 20 African heads of state and government, marked the official end of Uhuru’s decade-long presidency and the beginning of Ruto’s administration.
In a powerful moment of democratic symbolism, Uhuru watched as his presidential standard was lowered while that of President Ruto was hoisted, signaling the transfer of authority to Kenya’s fifth President.
In his address to the nation, Uhuru congratulated Ruto and urged him to serve all Kenyans regardless of political affiliation.
“Mr President-elect, as you walk the path to your inauguration and beyond, you will be President not just for those who voted for you but for all Kenyans,” Uhuru said.
At the time, the peaceful transition was widely praised as a demonstration of Kenya’s democratic maturity despite the political fallout between Uhuru and his former deputy.
But nearly four years later, the relationship between the retired President and the current administration has transformed into an increasingly bitter political and ideological battle that now threatens to shape the country’s politics heading into 2027.
Uhuru, Kenya’s only surviving former Head of State, has recently adopted a far more outspoken political posture.
During the burial of former Kirinyaga Senator Daniel Karaba in April, the former President sharply criticized leaders he accused of deceiving Kenyans with false promises and emotional rhetoric.
“I warned you but it is your own problem. But no worries,” Uhuru declared in remarks widely interpreted as a direct jab at the Kenya Kwanza administration.
The former President warned Kenyans against confusing politicians with genuine leaders.
“Politicians have very sweet tongues… some have honey in their tongues,” Uhuru said. “But a leader is someone who tells you the truth as it is, either good or bad.”
His remarks immediately reignited debate about the role retired presidents should play in active politics.
Leaders allied to President Ruto accuse Uhuru of abandoning the traditional neutrality expected of former heads of state. To them, his continued political engagement risks deepening divisions and undermining national cohesion.
But Uhuru appears unwilling to surrender his political voice.
Speaking during the homecoming ceremony of Jubilee Secretary General Moitalel Ole Kenta in Narok County, the former President strongly defended his continued participation in politics.
“When I speak one or two things, I am told I have retired and should go home. Why didn’t they tell Moi to retire and go home?” Uhuru posed.
He insisted that retirement from office does not strip him of his constitutional rights as a Kenyan citizen or as a political party leader.
“I am in active politics, but I am not looking for any seat. I have a right to defend my political party and stand with it. I am a member of Jubilee by blood,” he said.
The remarks have exposed a deeper constitutional and political dilemma within Kenya’s democracy.
Should retired presidents remain silent after leaving office? Or do they retain the same democratic freedoms enjoyed by ordinary citizens?
Globally, many retired leaders remain politically active long after leaving office. Former US President Barack Obama still campaigns for Democratic candidates and participates actively in national political debates.
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Uhuru himself referenced Obama while defending his continued engagement in politics.
“If you go to America, people like Obama are still defending their parties,” he argued.
Yet Kenya’s political dynamics are far more fragile and personality-driven than those of mature democracies.
In Kenya, former presidents still command enormous political influence, ethnic loyalty and state-level networks capable of reshaping national politics. That reality makes Uhuru’s political re-emergence particularly significant for President Ruto’s administration.
The discomfort within the ruling coalition became more visible after Nandi Senator Kiprotich Cherarkey tabled a Senate motion seeking to withdraw or reduce Uhuru’s retirement benefits over alleged partisan political activities.
The motion argues that retirement benefits accorded to former presidents are intended to preserve neutrality, institutional dignity and national unity.
If adopted, the proposal could fundamentally redefine the limits of political participation for retired heads of state in Kenya.
National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has also urged Uhuru to “step back” from active politics and embrace the role of a unifying national statesman.
Wetang’ula pointed to former Presidents Moi and Kibaki, both of whom maintained relatively restrained public profiles after retirement.
But comparisons with Moi and Kibaki ignore the unique political circumstances surrounding Uhuru’s exit from power.
Unlike his predecessors, Uhuru left office amid a dramatic political fallout with his deputy-turned-successor. The tensions surrounding the 2022 election never truly disappeared after the handover ceremony at Kasarani.
Today, those unresolved political wounds are resurfacing with growing intensity as the country slowly shifts attention towards the next election cycle.
Uhuru’s recent criticism of religious leaders, his warnings against voter bribery and his direct appeal to Gen Z voters suggest a former President actively seeking to influence Kenya’s political direction.
At the same time, attempts by government-allied leaders to politically isolate or punish him risk portraying the administration as intolerant to dissent.
The greater danger for Kenya may not necessarily be Uhuru’s political activism itself, but the growing personalisation of political competition between the current and former administrations.
At a time when millions of Kenyans are struggling with the high cost of living, unemployment and economic pressure, the country risks sliding into endless elite political warfare.
As Kenya approaches the 2027 General Election, the country faces difficult democratic questions.
Can a retired President remain politically active without destabilising the sitting government? Can the current administration tolerate criticism from its predecessor without resorting to political retaliation? And can Kenya develop political institutions strong enough to accommodate both?
For now, one reality remains undeniable: Uhuru Kenyatta has refused to disappear quietly into retirement.
And somewhere beyond the clouds, Kenya’s departed presidents may well be watching this unprecedented chapter in the country’s political history unfold with deep fascination, and perhaps a measure of disbelief.
The writer is a seasoned journalist and a media consultant in Kenya.
The opinions expressed in this article are those of the writer and do not necessarily reflect the views of Dawan Africa.