National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula has urged retired President Uhuru Kenyatta to embrace a statesman role and use his influence to promote peace and national unity.
Wetang’ula made the appeal during a church service, arguing that former presidents should help guide the country and support peaceful political transitions. His remarks come amid renewed political exchanges between Kenya Kwanza leaders and Kenyatta ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Wetang’ula’s Message to Uhuru
The Speaker said Kenyatta should respect the office of the retired president while allowing President William Ruto’s administration to discharge its mandate.
Wetang’ula said Kenyatta can criticise the government where necessary but urged him to do so respectfully. He argued that political disagreements should not threaten national cohesion or stability.
“You were given a unique opportunity to become President of Kenya. You are very fortunate that your father was our president,” Wetang’ula said, according to The Standard.
He also questioned Kenyatta’s continued involvement in opposition politics, pointing to the benefits attached to his position as a former head of state.
“But you cannot be a retired president, you served for 10 years, you are eating the pension of Kenyans and you are the one who is the opposition,” Wetang’ula said.
Shared Political History
Wetang’ula also invoked his longstanding relationship with Kenyatta while making the appeal. He recalled working with the former president in Parliament and during their time in the Cabinet of former President Mwai Kibaki.
The Speaker said their shared history should encourage political decorum and respect between leaders who have previously served the country together.
Wetang’ula has made similar appeals in recent months as Kenya Kwanza leaders have criticised Kenyatta over his continued political involvement. In September, he accused the former president of reviving divisions by questioning the outcome of the 2022 election.
The 2027 Political Debate
The latest remarks come amid a wider debate over the political role of former presidents in Kenya. The issue has gained further attention following conflicting High Court decisions on whether retired presidents can hold formal positions in political parties.
One September ruling upheld restrictions on retired presidents holding formal party leadership beyond six months after leaving office. Another ruling later declared the relevant provisions unconstitutional, creating competing legal positions on the issue.
Kenyatta has also maintained that political participation remains a constitutional right. His office previously indicated that he would relinquish the Jubilee Party chairmanship following the court ruling while maintaining that the decision did not bar him from general political activity.
Wetang’ula’s latest appeal therefore comes against a backdrop of both political and legal debate over Kenyatta’s role after State House.
“Now that your colleague has taken the steering wheel, be a good retired president and pray that our country has peace. If there are mistakes, criticise us in a respectful way,” Wetang’ula said.
As the country moves closer to the 2027 General Election, the exchange between Kenya Kwanza leaders and Kenyatta is likely to remain part of the wider political conversation. The debate continues to centre on the balance between a former president’s political rights and the expectations attached to the office he once held.
