Revealed: Uhuru's plan to make Ruto a one-term president

The Jubilee Party has revealed how its leader Uhuru Kenyatta intends to play a pivotal role in terminating President William Ruto's rule in 2027.

After failing to block Dr Ruto from ascending to the presidency in 2022, it appears that the former president still carries around the itch to revisit the opposition in 2027.

Jubilee Party's Secretary General Jeremiah Kioni has since said that Mr Kenyatta will unite with "progressive minds to capture political power".

He said the former president's party is partnering with presidential aspirants like Wiper's Kalonzo Musyoka, Dr Fred Matiang'i, Trans Nzoia governor

Mr George Natembeya, Mr Eugene Wamalwa, Busia senator Mr Okiya Omtatah as well as former Deputy President Mr Rigathi Gachagua.

"That is the position from the entire Jubilee Party leadership as of now. We are all alternating in holding public forums. When Jubilee Party is on a break, the others take over," he said.

Mr Kioni said the working shifts have been necessitated by the hard task of keeping President Ruto on check.

"Checkmating Ruto is a very overwhelming task. His government is such that, it goofs at least 10 times a day. It messes on hourly basis. Screaming at it is a very hard task. We need to have separate teams to scream at him in shifts," he said.

Mr Kioni added that Mr Kenyatta's wish is that "we all come together, form a formidable team that will make Ruto reelection such a tall order even if he will be doubling up as the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairman besides contesting the presidency".

On Monday while in Western region, President Ruto promised to fight tooth and nail for his reelection bid saying "I will squarely beat you even after you mobilise netizens to disparage me and my government".

Despite Murang'a Woman Representative Betty Maina insisting that "I'm in the know that Mr Kenyatta has a strong dislike for Mr Gachagua to a point he cannot tolerate him", Mr Kioni said "Mr Kenyatta begrudged no one, only that he seeks the best destiny for Kenya".

Mr Kioni said "in any case, Gachagua is the best soldier to help us fight what he helped put in place (the Kenya Kwanza Alliance administration where he was the running mate since 2022 till he was impeached on October 17, 2024)".

Mr Kioni said that Mr Kenyatta has instructed him to ensure that the Jubilee Party remains focused for 2027 with a goal of effecting a regime change through the vote.

"We have already started preparing for the task by way of launching national sensitisation programmes. We are doing it in turns and that informs the immense pressure President Ruto is facing," he said.

Mr Kioni said Mr Kenyatta's party has identified three areas where President Ruto is investing on to disperse the Mt Kenya unity deemed dangerous for his reelection bid. 

"The government mandarins are frustrating issuance of national Identity cards to the youths, unleashing Mungiki terror and briefing some of their allies in Mt Kenya to remain in the sidelines while silent," he said.

Mr Gachagua has also echoed similar sentiments especially calling out Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro who has been 'silent' for the past eight(8) months, to declare his 2027 stand.

Mr Nyoro went mute after the Finance Bill 2024, which he had played a major role to formulate, elicited nationwide Gen Z protests on June 25, 2024.

Mr Nyoro further kept off the debate and vote to kick out Mr Gachagua and so far, he has insisted that he will find his national electoral politics' voice in December 2026.

"It is a good question about why I'm nowadays silent. I want to first concentrate on serving my Kiharu people. About that political stand question, ask me towards the end of 2026," he recently told Citizen TV.

However, Mr Kioni on Monday warned that "there are those allies President Ruto has packed around to be inactive, some be sponsored to register briefcase parties so as to contest the presidency in 2027 hence splitting the Mt Kenya vote".

Among the newly formed parties made public is that of former Thika Town MP Mr Patrick Wainaina.

"Yes, I have registered a party that I will be unveiling soon...I am inviting members," Mr Wainaina said.

Former Gatanga MP Mr Nduati Ngugi, who is a Mr Kenyatta loyalist, said "you need not labour too much to know where my boss' heart is especially after he recently declared support for all youthful activities aimed at liberating their country".

"For the avoidance of doubt, Mr Kenyatta has clearly briefed us to remain well anchored in pursuing a 2027 political rebirth," Mr Ngugi said.

However, Mr Ngugi said "our boss is opposed to any activity that might block rightful share of development reaching the grassroots".

He said "Mr Kenyatta seeks that we push hard that President Ruto does not beat around the bush in delivering his mandate, but at the same time remain cognizant that he should effectively be challenged for 2027".

Mr Ngugi said "there is unanimity of thought among us in Jubilee that the country needs serious interventions before it clashes".

Mr Kioni said "our party will continue to call out all those playing the deceptive card to aide bad governance continue hanging around Kenyans".

Already, former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga has since endorsed President Ruto's second term, saying those from Mt Kenya opposed to his reelection are hypocrites.

Mr Njenga chided Mt Kenya to cease whining about President Ruto rule, saying "he is your baby that you gave birth to and you got no choice but to suckle it".

Mr Njenga countered that President Ruto remains the favourite to win the 2027 Presidential race, to the chagrin of the Mountaineers.

"I'm not sure whether President Ruto will lose in his reelection bid. It is dependent on how he will scheme in the remaining two and a half years. But if he took power under the 2022 General Elections environment, only a fool can underrate his mind. Huyu mtu ako na akili ya kutosha kujipanga (he is more win brained)," he said.

He said Mt Kenya got no justification whatsoever to keep on issuing ultimatums and heckling President Ruto since "you by your own volution gave this country his government".

But Mr Kioni said Mr Kenyatta's party is opposed to Mr Njenga activities where besides holding high voltage public gatherings, he is forcibly attending meetings assembled by Mr Gachagua allies, saying "you are walking a Dr Ruto trap".

Mr Kioni said "the Jubilee Party is of the opinion that your ongoing Mt Kenya programmes will lead to something bigger and sinister than you can manage... You will be manipulated to cause a bloodbath. And that will see the International Criminals Court (ICC) come back to Kenya".

He said "Only a fool can invest in Mr Njenga for a political breakthrough... He himself has been vying for political office and flopping owing to his history that need no introduction".