Uhuru remarks open Pandora's box, leave Gachagua tight-lipped

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s remarks that the late Raila Odinga won the disputed 2022 elections have opened a political Pandora’s box and kicked up a storm within the so-called broad-based coalition.

His sentiments, which came in the wake of sustained attacks against him by leaders allied to the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and those from ODM, appear to have kicked up the hornet’s nest and brought to light alleged behind- the- scenes happenings during the 2022 General Election.

Speaking during a Jubilee Party meeting in Nairobi on Tuesday, Uhuru said he remained convinced that Raila Odinga won the 2022 presidential election, further questioning how the Azimio coalition could have lost the presidency despite performing strongly in other elective races.

“We did everything to help Baba become President of the Republic of Kenya. He got the votes, and to this day I know that he is the one who won those votes. We know how things happened, and we do not want it to happen that way again,” Uhuru said.

“How can you say we were defeated when we had most of the MPs, governors and senators? How were we defeated in the presidency?”

Proponents within the broad-based coalition have since hit out at the former Head of State, accusing him of being hung up on the 2022 outcome.

Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot claims that the sentiments by Uhuru were borne out of pent-up frustrations, and are meant to dissuade ODM supporters who have “peered through and peeled away the lies.”

“It is an insult to the former Prime Minister, who has been valiantly fighting for a fair, transparent election system. One wonders why it has taken more than four years for Mr. Kenyatta to come up with such a frivolous allegation,” said Cheruiyot.

He went on to term the 2022 General Election as the “most transparent and credible in the history of the Republic of Kenya as ventilated and determined by the Supreme Court.”

Cheruiyot also claimed that Uhuru’s sentiments were an inadvertent admission that he (Uhuru) conned former Prime Minister Raila Odinga on using a fictitious and non-existent system to tilt the election in his favour. 

“The worst kept secret is now out that Uhuru did not put in the work, resources and apply his mind to helping Raila win. It is not lost on us that he rarely ever visited his backyard with Raila in tow, but deployed lightweights and political riff-raff to accompany him,” added the Majority Leader.

Senate Minority leader Stewart Madzayo also chimed in, only that his remarks seemed to support Uhuru’s claims.  An ODM supporter through and through, he buttressed the belief that Raila had indeed won the 2022 general elections and every other Presidential contest he had participated in.

“As members of ODM, we do not believe that Raila Odinga has ever lost any election in this country. He has been winning but because of reasons manufactured by his political opponents, his election victories have always been taken away from him. And even though he knows he won, he has continuously let it go to prevent bloodshed in this country. That says a lot about his patriotism,” stated Madzayo.

The debate has also taken on a new twist after pundits questioned former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s silence on the matter. They argue that Gachagua finds himself between a rock and a hard place: should he speak out and admit that Raila won the elections, he would be admitting to being part of a UDA team that hijacked the will of the people.

Should he also come out in defense of President Ruto, he risks being perceived as fighting Uhuru and giving credence to an administration that he has since fallen out with – a development that could further hamper his efforts to unite the Mt Kenya region ahead of the 2027 elections.

Uhuru has however remained resolute that he genuinely threw his weight behind Raila and accused the Kenya Kwanza leaders of engaging in divisive politics.

He rejected claims that he was responsible for Odinga's loss, saying he was not a candidate in the election.

“I am surprised when people say that we did not help Baba and that they defeated me. I was not on the ballot, and they are lying. I was only Raila's handyman,” he said.

He also warned against what he described as divisive and dirty politics, saying Kenya should not repeat the events surrounding the 2022 election.

“Dirty politics and politics aimed at dividing Kenyans will take us nowhere. Let us not divide each other. What does it help us? Sell your manifesto,” Uhuru said.

Uhuru said he accepted the Supreme Court's decision after the 2022 presidential petitions and handed over power to Ruto without disputing the outcome, accusing Ruto of dragging his name in his failed leadership.

“When we finished and the court ruled, we did not dispute it. We went and handed over the presidency to them. And now, after four years, they are still talking about Uhuru. But when things are not working, people tend to look for excuses,” he said.

But UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar accused Uhuru of failing to come to terms with the outcome of the election, which was won by Ruto.

“Uhuru has never healed from the humiliating defeat that he occasioned Raila in the hands of President William Ruto,” Omar said.

He further claimed that Uhuru had used State machinery in an attempt to influence the outcome of the 2022 election, allegations the statement did not substantiate.

Omar also accused the retired president of engaging in “unconstitutional shenanigans” before, during and after the election, citing alleged threats to former IEBC chairman Wafula Chebukati and events at Bomas of Kenya on August 15, 2022.

“William Ruto conclusively won the 2022 election,” Omar said, adding that Ruto would seek another term in the 2027 elections.