"Chose to be opposition leader": How Ruto visited Uhuru twice to ask for support

This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.

- President William Ruto has revealed that he visited Uhuru Kenyatta twice in an effort to secure his support for a broader vision for Kenya

- Ruto said he first went to Uhuru's Ichaweri home before later meeting him at his Nairobi office

- The president claimed Uhuru was reluctant to take up the proposed role and later chose to remain active in opposition politics

President William Ruto has revealed that he personally made two attempts to bring former president Uhuru Kenyatta on board with his efforts to develop a long-term vision for Kenya.

Ruto said he first visited Uhuru at his Ichaweri home before later meeting him at his office in Nairobi. According to the president, the visits were aimed at persuading his predecessor to use his experience as a former head of state to help shape the country's future.

The president made the revelations during an interview with journalists at State House on Friday, August 21.

Ruto said the idea emerged from conversations he had with former prime minister Raila Odinga on how senior political leaders could work together to develop a broader national vision and eventually hand it over to younger generations.

“I told him, you see, we are now the elders, we are the leaders of this nation. Why don't we work together, grow a bigger vision for Kenya, that then we can hand over to the next generation of leaders?” Ruto said.

Why did Ruto approach Uhuru?

Ruto said he considered Uhuru particularly important to the initiative because he was the only living former head of state at the time of the discussions.

He said he therefore made a deliberate effort to reach his predecessor, beginning with a visit to Ichaweri before following it up with another meeting at Uhuru's Nairobi office.

“I went out of my way. I looked for him. I went and saw him first in Ichaweri,” Ruto said.

According to the president, his appeal was for Uhuru to move beyond day-to-day political contests and help bring experienced leaders together around a common national agenda.

Ruto said Raila had been receptive to the proposal and agreed that former leaders should be involved in developing the broader vision.

However, he claimed Uhuru was not convinced by the idea.

“He was reluctant, you know, and he said he wasn't sure he wanted to do that,” Ruto said.

What role did Ruto want Uhuru to play?

Ruto said he believed Uhuru could have used his post-presidential position to become a unifying figure and statesman rather than remain involved in opposition politics.

The president argued that his predecessor had a choice after leaving State House but opted for a different political path.

“My predecessor had an option to become a statesman and rise above politics and become a unifying factor in a country. But he chose to climb down and become an opposition leader,” Ruto said.

The remarks come at a politically sensitive time, with Uhuru remaining influential within opposition circles ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Uhuru recently rejected claims that he was seeking a political position, saying Kenyans should be allowed to decide who leads them.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.