President William Ruto’s church remarks have prompted a sharp response from Jubilee Party amid his renewed dispute with Uhuru Kenyatta.
Jubilee says President William Ruto used a church platform to settle political scores after remarks widely seen as a response to Uhuru Kenyatta.
Jubilee Party has accused President William Ruto of hypocrisy over remarks at a church service that appeared to target retired President Uhuru Kenyatta, renewing a public dispute between the former political allies.
In a statement issued on Monday, Secretary-General Moitalel Ole Kenta criticised the President for urging leaders to uphold responsible conduct while, in the party’s view, using a religious platform to attack political opponents.
The response followed Ruto’s address on Sunday at a Pentecostal church in Mwatate, Taita Taveta County. The President did not name Uhuru, but his comments came days after his predecessor challenged him to focus on governing rather than repeatedly referring to the previous administration.
Jubilee challenges Ruto’s message
Ole Kenta argued that the President’s message on political restraint was inconsistent with his own use of the church platform. Jubilee accused the administration of turning the pulpit into a venue for political confrontation instead of addressing its record in office.
The party cited economic hardship, pressure from taxation and unfulfilled promises as issues it said the government should prioritise. Those criticisms formed part of its broader argument that lectures on public conduct did not answer Kenyans’ concerns.
Jubilee also accused the Kenya Kwanza administration of trying to reshape public understanding of the 2022 General Election. It maintained that political messaging could not change Kenyans’ recollection of the contest and the subsequent transfer of power.
Election dispute fuels fresh exchange
During his Mwatate address, Ruto urged political leaders to exercise restraint and behave in ways that citizens could emulate. He criticised leaders who continued revisiting the 2022 presidential election and questioned the coherence of their remarks.
The exchange followed Uhuru’s appearance at a Jubilee leadership handover in Nairobi on September 22, where he questioned why Ruto continued invoking his name. The retired President argued that the current administration’s responsibility was to serve Kenyans rather than keep blaming its predecessor.
Uhuru also defended his handling of the 2022 transition, saying his administration respected the Supreme Court’s decision and transferred power peacefully.
He nevertheless repeated his personal belief that the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga had won the presidential contest. Ruto was officially declared the winner, and the Supreme Court unanimously upheld that result.
Jubilee repositions ahead of 2027
The confrontation comes as Jubilee reorganises under former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, who was recently installed as party leader.
Matiang’i has been advocating opposition unity ahead of the 2027 General Election. Speaking to a church congregation in Narok on Sunday, before Ruto’s Mwatate remarks, he said opposition leaders would need patience and a willingness to make sacrifices as they worked towards agreeing on a joint presidential candidate.
Accompanied by Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro and Siaya Governor James Orengo, Matiang’i also accused the government of interfering with political parties and efforts to organise an alternative political front.
The latest dispute therefore unfolds alongside wider opposition negotiations, with Jubilee seeking a renewed role in the next election while defending Uhuru against what it considers political attacks by his successor.
