Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has publicly cast doubt on the legitimacy of the 2022 presidential election results, stating categorically that he believes former Prime Minister Raila Odinga secured the victory over President William Ruto.
Speaking on Tuesday during a Jubilee Party National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting in Nairobi, Kenyatta broke his political silence to revisit the highly contested August 2022 polls. He anchored his argument on the Azimio la Umoja–One Kenya Coalition’s performance across lower elective seats, questioning the mathematical probability of the coalition dominating county and parliamentary races while losing the ultimate presidential vote.
“We did everything to help Baba [Odinga] become the President of our Republic. He got the votes, and to date, I know he is the one who won that election,” Kenyatta told party delegates. “How can you say you won yet we have most Members of Parliament, Senators, and Governors? We know how things went down, and we do not want it to go that way again.”
The former head of state addressed critics who previously accused him of covertly sabotaging Odinga’s campaign. He maintained that he operated effectively as Odinga’s “handyman” and deployed available political machinery to support the bid.
Leadership Transition and the 2027 Strategy
Kenyatta’s bold pronouncements coincided with a major transition within his political faction. During the Tuesday meeting, he formally stepped down as the Jubilee Party Leader, clearing the way for former Interior Cabinet Secretary Dr. Fred Matiang’i to take the helm.
While stepping back from the apex leadership role, Kenyatta confirmed he will remain an active party member and advisor. Endorsing Matiang’i ahead of the 2027 General Election, Kenyatta pledged to hit the campaign trail to mobilize support for Jubilee candidates from the Ward level to the presidency. He urged his political base to avoid trading insults with the current administration and instead focus on marketing a tangible policy manifesto to the electorate.
The structural changes within Jubilee arrive at a critical juncture for the Kenyan opposition. Just a day prior, Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka announced that the broader Azimio coalition had unanimously agreed to rebrand as the “Ukombozi Alliance.” The strategic overhaul aims to consolidate the opposition’s regional voting blocs and establish a united front against the ruling Kenya Kwanza government.
Government Backlash
Kenyatta’s remarks immediately drew sharp pushback from the ruling administration. Leaders allied to President Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) dismissed the former president’s claims as legally moot and politically divisive.
Kenya Kwanza officials reiterated that the 2022 presidential election was conclusively validated by the Supreme Court of Kenya, which scrutinized the tallying process and dismissed Azimio’s petitions citing a lack of evidence for systemic vote rigging. Government-allied politicians have urged Kenyatta to respect the institutional finality of the courts and allow the current administration to execute its mandate without historical interference.
As the Ukombozi Alliance begins to take shape and Fred Matiang’i assumes control of Jubilee, Kenyatta’s remarks signal that the political grievances of the 2022 election will likely remain a central talking point as the country slowly pivots toward the 2027 campaign cycle.
