Jubilee secretary general Moitalel Ole Kenta during a past event /HANDOUT
The Jubilee Party has defended retired President Uhuru Kenyatta following blames from government officials over the current economic and governance challenges.
Secretary general Moitalel Ole Kenta dismissed the claims linking Uhuru to some of the country’s ongoing difficulties, insisting that he (Uhuru) left office after serving a stable and functioning nation.
He criticised the government over its handling of the recent fuel crisis and transport operators' strike that briefly disrupted public transport services across the country.
Ole Kenta said the strike and the rising cost of fuel had exposed deeper governance failures rather than past leadership shortcomings.
“The strike that just ended has not only exposed the problems facing the country, but has actually shown a government that’s inept, that’s unable to govern, that is actually punishing the Kenyan citizens in all spheres of their lives,” he said.
He questioned why Uhuru continues to be singled out in political debates despite having left office peacefully after completing his two-term constitutional mandate.
“As a party, we would like to ask a few pertinent questions. What has our party leader, Honorable Uhuru Kenyatta, got to do with what is going on in this country?” Ole Kenta asked.
He criticised the repeated political attacks on the former president by senior government figures, arguing that such remarks were distracting from urgent national issues affecting citizens.
“Yesterday we saw a cabinet secretary attack the former Head of State who ruled this country for 10 years, ensured that the economy was running well, ensured that there was peace, and ensured that every Kenyan felt that this country belonged to him or her,” he said.
The rebuttal follows recent comments by Interior Cabinet Secretary Kipchumba Murkomen who questioned why the matatu operators did not go on strike during Uhuru's tenure.
"The leaders of the matatu industry at that point in time never protested against the government. You should ask yourselves why did they feel that it was okay to understand Uhuru Kenyatta, but when it is President Ruto, they should go to the streets," Murkomen said.
Ole Kenta maintained that Kenya under Uhuru’s leadership remained economically stable and influential within the region, arguing that the current administration should focus on resolving present challenges rather than revisiting past leadership.
“What has he done to be castigated day and night? We are asking this government to let Kenyatta be. He gave them a country that was running, that was peaceful, and that was actually a powerhouse in East Africa,” he said.
The party further argued that the recent transport disruptions and fuel price concerns had highlighted governance gaps that require immediate attention, especially in stabilising essential services and easing the cost of living.
Ole Kenta was accompanied by deputy party leader Fred Matiang’i who insisted that political blame games will not solve current challenges, urging the government to focus on practical solutions to ease pressure on households and businesses.
