A quiet diplomatic effort on the sidelines of the 39th African Union Summit in Addis Ababa has raised fresh hopes of easing political tensions between President William Ruto and his predecessor Uhuru Kenyatta.
The talks, brokered by Ethiopian Prime minister Abiy Ahmed Ali, took place during the two-day summit that closed on February 15.
Sources familiar with the meeting described the engagement as a deliberate attempt to thaw years of strained relations between the two leaders, whose political fallout has shaped Kenya’s post-2022 political landscape.
According to insiders, President Ruto told Prime Minister Abiy he had made repeated efforts to embrace his predecessor in retirement, but those attempts had not yielded meaningful reconciliation.
The relationship between the two former allies deteriorated in the run-up to the 2022 General Election, when Kenyatta backed opposition leader Raila Odinga instead of his then deputy.
Since the transfer of power, their interactions have remained distant, punctuated by sporadic public gestures suggesting détente.
A source privy to the Addis Ababa discussions noted that tensions between the leaders have only eased twice in recent years, through brief public shows of camaraderie in 2024 and 2025 that failed to translate into lasting cooperation.
Political observers say Abiy’s intervention reflects regional interest in Kenya’s stability and diplomatic cohesion, given Nairobi’s strategic role in East African peace processes, trade, and security coordination.
While details of the Addis talks remain confidential, analysts suggest that improved relations between the two could ease domestic political polarization and foster bipartisan cooperation on national priorities.
Whether the truce will hold remains uncertain. However, the Addis Ababa engagement signals renewed attempts at reconciliation — and a recognition that unity at the top could strengthen Kenya’s political and economic trajectory.