Kalonzo Musyoka, Wiper Patriotic Front leader, and Siaya Governor James Orengo, among other opposition leaders, during a media briefing on September 21, 2026/ SCREENGRABWiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka has rejected President William Ruto’s description of retired President Uhuru Kenyatta as a “rebel leader”, saying the former Head of State remains entitled to participate in political life.
Speaking on behalf of opposition leaders on Monday, Kalonzo said the political contest ahead of the 2027 General Election would not be between Ruto and Uhuru, but between the President and Kenyans seeking to challenge his administration.
“Uhuru Kenyatta is not a rebel leader,” Kalonzo said, adding that Ruto is attempting to draw the retired President into a political contest he had chosen not to engage in.
Kalonzo said Uhuru had already indicated that he would comply with a recent High Court ruling requiring him to relinquish the Jubilee Party chairmanship.
“We will be the ones responding to William Ruto, not Uhuru Kenyatta, because he wants to throw him into a very unnecessary contest, and Uhuru Kenyatta said no,” he said.
His remarks followed renewed criticism of Uhuru by Ruto, who has in recent days said his predecessor of backing opposition activities against the Kenya Kwanza administration.
Speaking in Siaya last week, Ruto described Uhuru as a “rebel leader” and questioned his involvement in opposition politics.
“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.
Ruto has also questioned whether Uhuru can influence the 2027 presidential contest after failing to prevent his victory in the 2022 election.
“So Uhuru Kenyatta did not defeat me when he was President, and now I am the President, and he is retired — is he going to defeat me?” Ruto asked in Siaya.
Kalonzo's response comes days after the High Court upheld a law restricting retired presidents from holding leadership positions in political parties beyond six months after leaving office.
Justice Lawrence Mugambi ruled that Section 6 of the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act was a reasonable limitation on the political rights of retired presidents.
The ruling, however, does not bar a former president from belonging to a political party or participating in political activities.
Uhuru has since agreed to hand over the Jubilee Party chairmanship, saying the court decision had provided the legal clarity needed to complete the transition.
His office said the handover would be conducted openly, lawfully and in accordance with the party constitution.
Kalonzo said Jubilee was preparing for the transition, announcing that he would convene a party meeting on Tuesday to make the necessary decisions before communicating them to the wider Ukombozi Alliance.
He said arrangements would then be made for the formal handover of the chairmanship.
“These are important days,” Kalonzo said, referring to the political changes taking place within Jubilee and the wider opposition.
The transition comes as opposition parties and political formations continue consultations on how to approach the 2027 election.
Kalonzo, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, former Attorney General Justin Muturi, Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and other opposition figures have been involved in efforts to build a broader political alliance, although the opposition has yet to settle on a presidential candidate.
Kalonzo also defended Uhuru's political rights, arguing that the High Court ruling dealt with holding a formal party office rather than membership or political participation.
“The law speaks to the holding of office. It does not speak to belonging,” he said in an earlier response to the ruling.
He said Uhuru's willingness to relinquish the Jubilee leadership demonstrated the statesmanship he associated with the former President.
