Uhuru Kenyatta:Loyalty, Power, and Change

Uhuru Kenyatta: Legacy of a President Caught Between Loyalty, Power, and Change

Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta, born on October 26, 1961, in Nairobi, Kenya, is a figure who evokes both admiration and controversy in equal measure. As the son of Kenya’s founding presidentJomo Kenyatta and Mama Ngina Kenyatta, he was born into immense privilege, wealth, and influence. But while his family name opened doors, Uhuru had to forge his own path in the rough and often unforgiving world of Kenyan politics.

He received his early education at St. Mary’s School in Nairobi, where he stood out as a winger on the school’s rugby team. He later studied political science and economics at Amherst College in the United States, a foundation that prepared him for leadership both in business and public service. Upon returning to Kenya, he launched a successful horticulture business and took on responsibilities in managing his family’s expansive business empire.

The Political Awakening

Uhuru’s political journey began in earnest in the 1990s. In 1997, he chaired a local branch of the Kenya African National Union (KANU), the party once led by his father. His first political attempt—a bid for a parliamentary seat that same year—ended in defeat. However, President Daniel arap Moi, then head of KANU, saw potential in the young Kenyatta and seemed determined to groom him for leadership.

Uhuru’s star began to rise when Moi appointed him chairman of the Kenya Tourist Board in 1999, followed by the Disaster Emergency Response Committee. His big break came in 2001 when he was nominated to Parliament and appointed Minister for Local Government. A year later, Moi named him KANU’s presidential candidate—a move that sparked internal dissent. Many party stalwarts defected to support opposition leader Mwai Kibaki, who defeated Uhuru decisively in the 2002 election.

Despite the loss, Uhuru became the official Leader of the Opposition in Parliament. In 2005, he solidified his grip on KANU by becoming its chairman.

Trials, Tribulations, and Coalition Building

In the lead-up to the 2007 elections, Uhuru Kenyatta initially declared his candidacy but later withdrew in support of President Kibaki. The elections were marred by post-election violence, which left over a thousand dead and displaced many more. Uhuru, a Kikuyu, was accused by the International Criminal Court (ICC) in 2010 of orchestrating some of the violence. The charges, which included crimes against humanity, put a cloud over his political ambitions.

Nevertheless, Uhuru Kenyatta resigned as Finance Minister in 2012 but remained Deputy Prime Minister. That same year, he formed The National Alliance (TNA) and later joined forces with William Ruto, another ICC-indicted figure, to create the Jubilee Coalition.

Their 2013 campaign was viewed with skepticism due to the ongoing ICC cases. Yet, the duo—popularly dubbed “UhuRuto”—won the presidency with 50.07% of the vote, narrowly avoiding a runoff. Raila Odinga challenged the results in court, but the Supreme Court upheld the outcome, and Uhuru was sworn in as president on April 9, 2013.https://shorturl.at/sxHBW

ICC Case Dropped, A New Mandate

Uhuru’s time at The Hague was fraught with delays, witness withdrawals, and accusations of non-cooperation by the Kenyan government. In December 2014, the ICC dropped the charges against him, citing insufficient evidence and widespread witness intimidation. The case was formally terminated in March 2015.

As the 2017 elections approached, the Jubilee Coalition transformed into a single political party—the Jubilee Party. Uhuru Kenyatta again ran with Ruto as his deputy, facing off against Odinga’s NASA coalition. He won the August 8 election with over 54% of the vote, but the Supreme Court nullified the results due to irregularities. A fresh election was ordered and held on October 26, 2017. Odinga boycotted the repeat poll, and Kenyatta won by a landslide—but with low voter turnout.

The Handshake That Shook the Nation

In March 2018, in a surprising twist, Uhuru and Raila Odinga made peace in a symbolic public gesture that became known as “The Handshake.” The move aimed to promote national unity and end years of political enmity. The duo collaborated on the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), a proposed set of constitutional reforms meant to address systemic issues in Kenyan governance.

However, the handshake caused a deep rift within Jubilee. Deputy President Ruto felt increasingly sidelined and viewed the handshake as a betrayal. He accused Uhuru of abandoning the government’s development agenda—particularly the Big Four (housing, manufacturing, food security, and healthcare)—in favor of personal political deals.

A House Divided

Uhuru’s growing closeness with Odinga alienated Ruto and led to a public fallout. Uhuru began to elevate Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, effectively making him the de facto deputy president. Critics saw this as a strategic move to weaken Ruto’s influence.

As the 2022 elections approached, Uhuru threw his weight behind Raila Odinga, urging Kenyans to reject his former deputy, whom he labeled as corrupt and unfit to lead. The endorsement was clear: Uhuru had picked sides.

Despite his efforts, Odinga lost the 2022 presidential race to William Ruto, who had by then broken away from Jubilee and launched his own party, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA). Ruto’s win marked the end of the Uhuru era—and a bitter twist of fate, losing to the very man he once championed.

Legacy of a Polarizing Figure

Uhuru Kenyatta’s legacy is complicated. He is credited with overseeing major infrastructure projects and promoting a sense of modernity and digitization in public service. Under his leadership, Kenya joined key international platforms, and his government made strides in areas like electricity access and road construction.

But his presidency was also marred by accusations of corruption, unfulfilled promises, and political betrayal. The fallout with Ruto, the controversial BBI push, and the perception of dynastic politics left a mixed impression among Kenyans.

Whether history will remember Uhuru as a bridge-builder or a divisive figure remains to be seen. What is clear, however, is that his time in power reshaped Kenya’s political landscape in profound ways—some unifying, others deeply polarizing.https://touchdigitalnews.com/gachagua-defends-uhuru-warns-ruto-over-mt-kenya-politics/