Former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’iJubilee presidential candidate Fred Matiang’i has criticised remarks made by President William Ruto describing retired President Uhuru Kenyatta as a “rebel leader” over claims that Uhuru is sponsoring opposition activities ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking in Siaya on Tuesday, Ruto described his former boss as a rebel leader.
“Mimi nashangaa, mtu ambaye amekuwa Rais wa Kenya, unaacha kiti ya Rais, badala ya kwenda kuwa statesman, unaenda kuwa rebel leader, kiongozi wa upinzani,” Ruto said while welcoming a court ruling that barred Uhuru from holding office in a political party.
In a statement on Wednesday, Matiang’i claimed Ruto was spending too much time “hunting for sponsors of the opposition” instead of serving the citizens who elected him.
He said criticism of the government and lawful political participation were part of the opposition’s democratic mandate and did not amount to rebellion.
“It’s a paradox that President William Ruto called former President Uhuru Kenyatta a ‘rebel leader’ the same day Kenyatta accepted the High Court ruling and confirmed he’d hand over Jubilee’s leadership. That’s not rebellion; that’s respect for the rule of law,” Matiang’i said.
The former Interior CS said criticism of an administration was not rebellion, dismissing the suggestion that Uhuru was funding critics of the Ruto administration.
“When a young Kenyan asks where the jobs are, when a family asks why the cost of living keeps rising, that is not Uhuru speaking. That is Kenyans speaking for themselves,” he said.
Matiang’i told Ruto to focus on governing and allow the opposition to play its oversight role, saying Kenyans were the sponsors of political parties.
“Government should govern. Opposition should oppose. Parties should compete. Kenyans should decide. That is democracy. It is not rebellion,” he said.
Ruto and Kenya Kwanza allies have repeatedly accused Uhuru of funding opposition factions, protests and proxy candidates ahead of the 2027 elections.
Uhuru has publicly denied the claims.
Speaking during the memorial service for former Vice President Michael Kijana Wamalwa in Kitale on August 23, Uhuru dismissed claims that he was funding opposition politicians to challenge Ruto in the 2027 General Election.
“I don’t want to be called a sponsor; I have just said the power belongs to the people,” Uhuru said, insisting that he had no interest in returning to active politics or seeking any political seat.
Following Tuesday’s court ruling, Uhuru said he would soon vacate the Jubilee chairmanship, welcoming the decision as a “reaffirmation of democratic maturity”.
The High Court upheld Section 6 of the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act, which bars retired presidents from holding formal party leadership positions beyond six months.
Through his office spokesperson Kanze Dena, Uhuru, however, said the ruling restricts him from holding party office but does not bar him from general political activity or party membership.
He affirmed absolute willingness to complete the party handover openly, lawfully and in line with the party constitution.
