CS Duale: Uhuru apunguze wivu

Defence Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale has taken a public swipe at former President Uhuru Kenyatta, accusing him of harbouring resentment toward President William Ruto's administration and urging him to accept the outcome of the 2022 general election and move on.

Duale, one of the Kenya Kwanza coalition's most outspoken figures, made the remarks at a public function in Nairobi, saying Kenyatta should redirect his energies toward constructive national engagement rather than what the CS characterised as behind-the-scenes efforts to destabilise a legitimately elected government. The comments come amid persistent reports of political manoeuvring attributed to the former head of state, who has maintained a low public profile since leaving State House in September 2022 but is widely believed to retain significant influence within opposition circles.

"We won the election fairly and Kenyans gave us a clear mandate. The former president should accept that and wish the country well," Duale said.

Kenyatta and Ruto were long-time political partners before a dramatic rupture ahead of the 2022 vote, when the former president threw his support behind Azimio la Umoja coalition candidate Raila Odinga. Ruto won the August 2022 contest by a margin upheld by the Supreme Court, though Kenyatta publicly questioned the integrity of the process — a move that deepened the personal and political estrangement between the two camps.

Duale, who served as National Assembly Majority Leader under Kenyatta's government before aligning firmly with Ruto, has been among the most vocal critics of the former president's post-retirement conduct. Political analysts say the continued public exchanges reflect unresolved elite tensions that show no sign of abating as Kenya edges closer to the 2027 electoral cycle.