Senate Majority Leader Aaron Cheruiyot has sharply criticised retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, urging him to stay away from active politics and follow the example set by previous heads of state.
Speaking during an empowerment event in Garissa on Saturday, the Kericho Senator said Uhuru should respect the stature of the office he once held by avoiding involvement in day-to-day political battles.
“We would like to tell retired President Uhuru Kenyatta: please be a 'gentleman' like the other former Presidents. When Daniel Arap Moi retired, did you ever see him engaging in politics? When Mwai Kibaki retired, did you see him going into politics?” Cheruiyot posed, attracting reactions from the gathering.
He urged the former president to stop issuing statements and criticisms that, in his view, could disrupt the operations of the current administration.
According to him, Uhuru’s continued public remarks risk weakening the authority of President William Ruto’s government and heightening political friction across the country.
Cheruiyot noted that while every administration faces its own challenges, the retired leader should allow the current government to work without interference. His sentiments align with those of other allies of the President who have dismissed Uhuru’s claims that Kenya Kwanza is undoing achievements made during his time in office.
The remarks came a day after Uhuru declared plans to embark on a countrywide “meet the people” tour, signaling his active return to Jubilee Party grassroots mobilisation ahead of the 2027 elections. The planned campaign will take him to various counties, including rural areas, where he intends to interact directly with supporters and local communities.
Speaking during the Jubilee Party’s National Delegation Conference on Friday, Uhuru explained that the initiative seeks to rebuild the party’s connection with its members and set a clear political direction.
“Mimi nitajitolea sasa kwa sababu tumesema tunataka kuanzisha recruitment drive kuanza kuzunguka mashinani. Kila area tupatane na nyinyi tuongee pamoja na nyinyi… So that together we know which direction forward in the future,” he said.
Cheruiyot’s statement adds to the growing political reactions surrounding Uhuru’s renewed activities, as debate intensifies on the role of retired leaders in Kenya’s political landscape.