Uhuru Kenyatta
East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP David Ole Sankok has defended former President Uhuru Kenyatta amid growing criticism of his alleged involvement in opposition politics, arguing that the retired Head of State should be allowed to remain politically active.
Sankok said Uhuru handed over power to President William Ruto in a constitutional, democratic and patriotic manner, and questioned why the former president should continue facing political attacks after leaving office.
“I am a witness that the Office of the 4th President of the Republic of Kenya handed over power to H.E William Samoei Ruto in the most constitutional, democratic and patriotic manner,” Sankok said.
He argued that the continued political confrontation with Uhuru risks creating a precedent that could eventually affect future former presidents.
Sankok invoked Kenya's history of presidential transitions, beginning with the country's first president, Jomo Kenyatta, and his successor, Daniel arap Moi.
He noted that Moi assumed the presidency following Jomo Kenyatta's death in 1978, but argued that he and his political allies did not spend their years in office continuously blaming the late president for political challenges.
“Moi and his foot soldiers never continuously blamed Jomo Kenyatta,” Sankok said, adding that the country's first president was eventually allowed to “rest in peace”.
Sankok also pointed to the relationship between Moi and former President Mwai Kibaki. Although Kibaki had served as Moi's vice president before being dismissed from the position, Sankok said Kibaki and his supporters did not spend his presidency pursuing Moi after he retired from State House.
Instead, he said, Moi remained politically active in KANU, which became the official opposition party after the 2002 elections, while retaining the respect associated with his former Head of State status.
Sankok similarly cited the transition from Kibaki to Uhuru Kenyatta. He acknowledged that Kibaki had defeated Uhuru in the 2002 presidential contest, but said Uhuru and his supporters did not continuously target the former president after he left office.
According to Sankok, the same principle should apply to Uhuru.
“Uhuru Kenyatta democratically handed over power to President William Ruto. We MUST allow Uhuru to enjoy his former Head of State Status,” he said.
His comments come amid an escalating political dispute over Uhuru's role in Kenya's politics ahead of the 2027 General Election. Ruto has accused the former president of organising or supporting political forces opposed to his administration, allegations that Uhuru's allies have rejected.
Sankok maintained that Uhuru has a constitutional right to remain politically involved after retirement, just as Moi remained active in KANU and Kibaki participated in the Party of National Unity (PNU).
He also dismissed criticism of Uhuru's use of his personal resources, arguing that the former president is entitled to spend his money as he chooses.
“Uhuru has constitutional rights to use his money in anyway, anyhow and to dish it out to Tom, Dick and Harry as far as it pleases him not you,” Sankok said.
He further compared Uhuru's political involvement with former US President Barack Obama, who remained active within Democratic Party politics after leaving the White House.
Sankok urged political leaders to respect Uhuru and his family in the same manner previous retired presidents and their families were treated, warning that excessive political attacks could establish a precedent that may eventually affect those currently in power.
“Too much of anything is poisonous,” he said.