Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta and his successor William Ruto are headed for another political showdown, four years after their bitter falling-out played out in the 2022 presidential election, with the two now trading accusations over who is pulling the opposition strings ahead of the 2027 election.

The latest clash was triggered by Dr Ruto’s increasingly direct claims that Mr Kenyatta is sponsoring opposition politicians and the Linda Mwananchi movement to frustrate his administration and undermine his bid for a second term.

On Sunday, Mr Kenyatta fired back at his successor, dismissing the “sponsor” tag and insisting that he has no interest in returning to elective politics. “I don’t want to be labelled a sponsor. If you want votes, ask Kenyans politely; they will give them to you or deny you. I asked them at first, and I was denied; I came back again, and they voted for me. People should not come out and say that whatever I’m saying, I am politicking. I have no interest in any position,” he said.

Mr Kenyatta spoke during the 23rd memorial service for former Vice-President Wamalwa Kijana in Kitale, Trans Nzoia County, as the political temperature between him and his successor rose a notch higher.

Opposition leaders, who attended the memorial, included Wiper’s Kalonzo Musyoka, Jubilee’s Dr Fred Matiang’i, Martha Karua (People’s Liberation Party), Ms Charity Ngilu and Democratic Party's Justin Muturi. They pledged to front a single candidate against Dr Ruto in 2027.

“Kenyans will decide if it will be Kalonzo, Matiang’i, President Ruto or Sifuna. Kenyans should be left to elect their president in the coming polls,” said Mr Kenyatta, amidst cheers from the crowd chanting “Sifuna, Sifuna”.

Read: Uhuru’s shadow looms over Ruto’s 2027 battle

Mr Kenyatta’s remarks appeared to position him as a key figure in the emerging effort to mount a united challenge against Dr Ruto, even as he rejected claims that he was funding the opposition. His response came as Dr Ruto accused him of deploying leaders to frustrate his administration’s development agenda and undermine his bid for a second term.

Speaking at Africa Inland Church Makutano in Taita Taveta, Dr Ruto said his political opponents had been “sent” to oppose virtually every government project without offering an alternative. “Tell us what you did before you start criticising my development projects. What is your agenda? They are full of noise about ‘must go’, ‘one term’ and ‘Kasongo’. But they have been sent. They were told to go and oppose everything being undertaken by my administration, for instance, housing, Social Health Authority and the rest. You have no alternative. Your work is to oppose everything I am doing,” Dr Ruto said.

From left: Taita Taveta Woman Representative Lydia Haika, President William Ruto, AIC Milimani Pastor Jeremiah Mombasa, Taita Taveta AIC Bishop Frank Mamre and AIC District Church Council Chairman Pastor Peter Mutua during a church service at AIC Makutano in Taita Taveta County on August 23, 2026.

Photo credit: PCS

The exchange marks a significant shift in the relationship between the two men who came to power together in 2013, served two terms as president and deputy president, and successfully defended their administration in 2017 before their partnership collapsed during their second term.

Their falling-out was most dramatically displayed in the 2022 General Election, when Mr Kenyatta backed former Prime Minister Raila Odinga for president instead of his own deputy. Dr Ruto went on to defeat Mr Odinga and succeed Mr Kenyatta, becoming the first deputy president to win the presidency against the wishes of his sitting boss.

Mr Kenyatta’s influence, however, did not disappear with his retirement from State House. His continued role in Jubilee Party and his relationships with politicians in Mount Kenya have kept him relevant in the political realignments ahead of 2027.

Read: Why Uhuru Kenyatta’s plan to revive Azimio faces fresh hurdles

His party has since nominated former Cabinet Secretary Matiang’i as its presidential candidate, putting his political camp on a collision course with Dr Ruto’s. At the same time, Dr Ruto has been working to consolidate support across regions and has entered into a broad-based arrangement with ODM, while facing a growing coalition of politicians seeking to unseat him. Against this backdrop, the President has increasingly portrayed Mr Kenyatta as a behind-the-scenes force in the opposition camp, accusing him of sending politicians to attack government projects and mobilise against his administration.

Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua has waded into the renewed political showdown between Dr Ruto and Mr Kenyatta, telling the President to leave the retired Head of State alone and take responsibility for his “administration’s failures”. Addressing residents of Kirinyaga and Karatina yesterday, Mr Gachagua said Dr Ruto was unable to govern the country and should take responsibility for his own problems instead of targeting Mr Kenyatta. “Ruto is unable to govern Kenya; he should stop blaming his own problems on Kenyatta.”

He also praised the former president for keeping his distance from Dr Ruto, saying he had refused to be associated with what he described as a failed administration.

Read: Uhuru under fire over Ruto attack at Jubilee conference

“Kenyatta kept away from Ruto because he didn't want to be associated with a failure. Therefore, Ruto should stay with his failures and keep away from Kenyatta,” he said.

Opposition leaders Charity Ngilu (left), Fred Matiangi, Eugene Wamalwa, Former President Uhuru Kenyatta, Kalonzo Musyoka, Justin Muturi and Martha Karua, during the 23rd memorial of the late Vice President Michael Kijana Wamalwa, at his Milimani Home in Kitale, Trans Nzoia County on August 23, 2026.

Photo credit: Jared Nyataya | Nation Media Group

Mr Musyoka defended Mr Kenyatta against political attacks and accusations from Kenya Kwanza leaders over his political position.

“He (Kenyatta) has a right to talk as a leader in this country. He has said himself that he does not want power; therefore, those attacking him should stop. We are ready to form a strong team to send you (Ruto) home,” Mr Musyoka said.

But President Ruto’s allies on Sunday told Mr Kenyatta to stay out of the country’s politics and enjoy his retirement, accusing him of sponsoring opposition activities aimed at destabilising the Kenya Kwanza administration. They also took issue with Mount Kenya leaders whom they accused of opposing Dr Ruto simply because he comes from another part of the country.

They said Mr Kenyatta should have kept off active politics after handing over power and supported Dr Ruto to deliver on his mandate.

Cabinet Secretaries Opiyo Wandayi (Energy) and Kipchumba Murkomen (Interior), Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot, Deputy Senate Minority Whip Eddy Oketch, Kericho Governor Erick Mutai, Bomet Woman Representative Linet Chepkorir, Nandi Woman Representative Cynthia Muge and MPs Nelson Koech (Belgut), Reuben Kiborek (Mogotio), Kibet Komingoi (Bureti) and Alfred Mutai (Kuresoi North) said Mr Kenyatta should conduct himself like the statesman he is expected to be.

They spoke in Kericho yesterday during an annual marathon organised by Belgut MP Koech to raise funds for needy students in the constituency.

Mr Wandayi accused leaders from Mount Kenya of showing Dr Ruto disrespect because he comes from another region. “When presidents Jomo Kenyatta, Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta, who are from Mount Kenya, were leading this country, they were accorded the respect they deserved and went on to serve two terms each with the backing of all Kenyans,” Mr Wandayi said. “It is unfortunate that the same people whose leaders we supported are now showing President Ruto a lot of disrespect simply because he comes from another region.”

Mr Wandayi said Dr Ruto had united Kenyans regardless of their backgrounds and deserved to be supported in the 2027 General Election.

Read: 2027 battle lines: Ruto allies fire back at Uhuru

“In Nyanza, the voters have decided, and there is no backing down. They will back President Ruto for a second term in office. We have done that as a matter of principle,” he said.

Migori Senator Oketch said Mr Kenyatta had set a bad precedent by remaining active in politics after serving his second and final constitutional term, arguing that he would have earned greater respect and admiration at home and abroad had he retired from active politics. “As a matter of fact, it is only during the administrations of former President Daniel Moi and Dr William Ruto that one part of this country has been opposed to those in power. It is a selfish move that must be rejected by all Kenyans,” Mr Oketch said.

The senator said that in other African countries and the developed world, former presidents generally retire from active politics after serving their constitutional terms and avoid meddling in local political affairs. “It is unfortunate that in Kenya, former President Kenyatta is sponsoring political instability instead of retiring and giving his successor the chance to provide leadership for the country,” Mr Oketch claimed.

Governor Mutai said residents of the Rift Valley had rallied behind Mr Kenyatta for two terms but accused him of repaying their support by undermining Dr Ruto during his final term, backing another candidate in the 2022 election and continuing to oppose his administration. “We gave you (Uhuru) 10 years in office, but you harassed and frustrated Dr Ruto even while he was your deputy. Now that God has given Dr Ruto the chance to be President, you are seeking to destabilise his government and remove him by sponsoring opposition leaders against him in the 2027 General Election. You will not succeed,” Dr Mutai said.

“Uhuru should retire in peace and leave the political stage. He should be told that President Ruto will be re-elected in the next General Election because of his development record.”

Principal Secretary for Interior Raymond Omollo said Dr Ruto was a unifying figure who had rolled out development projects across all 47 counties regardless of how they voted in the last election. “There is a need for Kenyans to shun leaders who are out to divide and incite them to violence ahead of the next General Election. We should jealously guard the existing peace in the country,” he said.

Ms Chepkorir and Ms Muge urged Kenyans to rally behind Dr Ruto and ensure peace prevails ahead of the next General Election.

Presidential Adviser on Great Rift Regions Charles Keter, a former Cabinet Secretary for Energy, said Kenyans should back Dr Ruto for a second term to enable him to complete major development projects across the 47 counties.

Mr Keter said Dr Ruto had big plans for the country and those seeking to destabilise his administration would not succeed. “President Ruto has big plans for this country, and those out to destabilise his administration will not succeed. He will be re-elected in the next General Election by a majority of Kenyans,” Mr Keter said.

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Additional reporting Vitalis Kimutai and George Munene