Donald Kipkorir has weighed in on the renewed political exchanges involving President William Ruto and retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, arguing that the former Head of State is increasingly being portrayed as a political enemy in the run-up to the 2027 General Election.
The city lawyer drew parallels between the current attacks on Uhuru and the long-running political use of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga as a perceived political threat during previous election cycles.
Kipkorir said Raila, who died recently, spent much of his political career in opposition, despite periods of cooperation and political partnerships with successive governments.
He argued that Raila was frequently presented as a figure capable of mobilising particular communities against the wider country, a narrative he said was used to influence electoral politics.
“Until his death, Baba Raila Odinga was used as the ultimate BOGEYMAN to galvanize the rest of the country against the Luo Nation & its supporters,” Kipkorir said.
The lawyer pointed to Raila's political collaborations with different administrations, including periods of cooperation, the 2018 handshake with Uhuru and the subsequent broad-based arrangement with President Ruto.
According to Kipkorir, those alliances demonstrated that Kenya's political relationships could change significantly depending on the prevailing circumstances.
He, however, argued that the latest political contest appeared to be reviving the practice of identifying a prominent individual as an electoral antagonist.
“It seemed we had moved on from creating BOGEYMAN for General Elections. It seemed not,” he said.
Kipkorir specifically cited Uhuru, who served as Kenya's president from 2013 to 2022, saying the former president was now being subjected to political attacks similar to those previously directed at Raila.
His remarks come amid renewed criticism of Uhuru by Ruto, who has accused his predecessor of involving himself in opposition politics and undermining his administration.
Ruto recently questioned why Uhuru had chosen to remain politically active instead of adopting the role of a statesman after leaving office.
The President also accused the former Head of State of supporting political forces opposed to his government.
Uhuru has increasingly featured in political discussions as opposition figures and parties position themselves ahead of the 2027 election.
Kipkorir noted that the change in political rhetoric was particularly striking because Uhuru had previously been viewed by many Luo politicians as an ally, especially during the period following his 2018 political agreement with Raila.
“For over 6 Years, Uhuru was seen as a the ultimate friend of the Luo Nation. Suddenly, Luo politicians who want local support are accusing Uhuru of all manner of nefarious schemes against them!” he said.
Kipkorir concluded that Kenya's electoral politics often brings dramatic changes in political alliances and public narratives.
“In Kenya, indeed we have short memories every General Elections time!” he said.