Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has responded to President William Ruto’s repeated claims that he is funding opposition politicians seeking to challenge the President in the 2027 General Election.
Speaking in Kitale, Trans Nzoia County, on Sunday, August 16, during the annual memorial service for former Vice-President Michael Kijana Wamalwa, Uhuru distanced himself from being described as a political “sponsor”, saying Kenyans should be allowed to make their own political choices.
“I do not want to be called a sponsor. I do not want many issues. The choice belongs to the people, and there is no need to force any Kenyan to go to this side or that side," Uhuru said.
The retired president said politicians seeking votes should do so peacefully and allow voters to decide who they want to support.
“If it is about asking for votes, let us do it in peace. Kenyans know who they want. If they say they want Kalonzo, it is Kalonzo; if they say they want Ruto, it is Ruto; if they say they want Matiang’i, it is Matiang’i; and if they say they want Sifuna, it is Sifuna. Whoever they decide, it is up to them,” he opined.
Read More
He also dismissed suggestions that he was seeking political office or interfering in current political affairs, stating that: “Do not say that I am interfering with politics. I am not interested in any political seat."
Uhuru’s remarks came amid repeated accusations by Ruto that his predecessor is financing opposition activities and politicians preparing to challenge him in the 2027 presidential election.
Speaking in Eldoret on Thursday, August 13, Ruto accused Uhuru of funding candidates positioning themselves to challenge his re-election.
Ruto also attributed the alleged involvement to what he described as Uhuru’s envy over the achievements of his administration, contrasting them with what he said the former president failed to accomplish during his decade in office.
“When you look at their sponsor, didn’t he fail to deliver on Affordable Housing, Universal Healthcare Coverage, and Education? Now he has gone to sponsor his protégés to come and compete with me. I will defeat them early in the morning because they have no plan, agenda, policies or vision,” Ruto said.
Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna has also criticised Ruto over the allegations, challenging the President to substantiate his claims that Uhuru is funding opposition figures.
In a Facebook statement on Sunday, August 23, Sifuna referred to a recent newspaper interview in which Ruto was asked to provide evidence supporting his repeated claims about Uhuru’s alleged financial backing of opposition politicians.
According to Sifuna, Ruto was unable to provide evidence beyond media reports.
“That guy who supposedly holds all of Kenya’s intellectual capital was asked a very simple question: to provide evidence that Uhuru is the sponsor of the opposition; and he said he only read about it in the newspaper... yet he claims we are the fools,” Sifuna stated.
The exchange comes as political activity and alliances take shape ahead of the 2027 General Election, with Ruto seeking a second term and opposition figures positioning themselves for the contest.
 (1)-1787475795.jpg)
