Retired but Not Powerless: Uhuru Fires Back at Ruto on ODM
Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta has rejected claims that he is seeking to take control of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) and warned the government against weakening Kenya’s multiparty system.
Speaking on 30 December at the funeral of former Lugari MP Cyrus Jirongo in Kakamega County, Mr Kenyatta criticised the Kenya Kwanza administration, accusing it of promoting political arrangements that undermine party independence. He said retirement did not prevent him from defending his political interests, stating that he would not accept being targeted or blamed for internal disputes in other parties.
His remarks followed rallies in Homa Bay and Migori, where ODM leaders allied to President William Ruto alleged that Mr Kenyatta was holding secret meetings to push the party out of the cooperation agreement signed earlier this year between President Ruto and the late Raila Odinga. ODM, now led by Dr Oburu Oginga, has faced growing speculation over its political direction ahead of the 2027 general election.
Mr Kenyatta dismissed the allegations, saying they were attempts to shift blame by those unable to convince ODM members through engagement. He said he respected other political parties and expected the same respect in return, warning that dissolving established parties into large coalitions would weaken constitutional protections for multiparty democracy.
Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi responded by defending coalition politics, describing it as a natural development in Kenya’s democratic system. He cited the Azimio alliance, which Mr Kenyatta supported in the 2022 election, as an example of coalitions that can promote unity without undermining political diversity.
ODM officials attending the burial also addressed the claims. Secretary-General
Edwin Sifuna denied the existence of any agreement between Mr Kenyatta and ODM, saying that major party decisions could only be approved by the National Delegates’ Convention. He reaffirmed ODM’s commitment to the memorandum of understanding with President Ruto and Mr Odinga and rejected suggestions of secret talks.
Siaya Governor James Orengo and Vihiga Senator Godfrey Osotsi warned that smaller parties risk losing their identity if absorbed into dominant coalitions. They said such trends could weaken political competition and erode the foundations on which parties were built.
