By OLIVER MUSEMBI
Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi has urged President William Ruto and his allies to stop using retired President Uhuru Kenyatta as a scapegoat for the Government’s shortcomings, saying those in office should focus on delivering their mandates.
Wamatangi said Uhuru left office four years ago and should be allowed to enjoy his retirement without being dragged into every political dispute facing the Kenya Kwanza administration.
“Former President Uhuru Kenyatta left office four years ago. Those in office should concentrate on their mandates, not preoccupying themselves with attacking Uhuru and dragging him into everything,” Wamatangi said.
The governor spoke during a Sunday service at St Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in Ngenia, Githunguri Constituency, where he criticised the continued attacks against the retired President by politicians allied to the broad-based government.
Uhuru has recently come under increased criticism from Ruto and his allies, who accuse him of sponsoring opposition leaders and political groups allegedly seeking to undermine the Kenya Kwanza administration ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Ruto and his allies have also criticised the record of the former President’s administration, accusing it of failing to deliver on key areas of development while allegedly supporting efforts to remove the current administration from power.
Wamatangi, however, said the Government should focus its attention on problems affecting Kenyans rather than blaming a retired leader.
“They should focus on discharging their mandate to serve Kenyans because they are the ones in office, not looking for a scapegoat by attacking someone who is retired. It seems their main job is to monitor what Uhuru does or says,” he said.
The governor said the country was facing serious challenges that required the attention of leaders currently holding public office.
“This country faces huge problems and the former President is not one of them. Leaders should devote their energies towards finding solutions to the problems Kenyans are facing, but not monitoring what Uhuru does or says,” Wamatangi said.
He urged elected leaders to take responsibility for their performance instead of shifting blame to their predecessors.
“Those of us who were elected are the ones who have work to do, not those who have retired. We need to be honest and truthful, not to look for excuses to attack others,” he said.
Wamatangi’s remarks come amid heightened political activity ahead of the 2027 General Election, with Ruto and his allies increasingly accusing Uhuru of supporting political forces opposed to the Kenya Kwanza administration.
On Thursday, August 13, 2026, Ruto intensified his criticism of his predecessor during a political meeting in Eldoret, Uasin Gishu County, accusing Uhuru of being behind opposition leaders seeking to challenge his administration.
The President also questioned the record of Uhuru’s administration, arguing that it failed to deliver on key programmes, including Affordable Housing, Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and education.
“Mkipima wale watu, yule sponsor wao alishindwa na mambo ya Affordable Housing? Alishindwa na mambo ya UHC? Alishindwa na maneno ya kusomesha watoto wetu?” Ruto said.
The remarks, translated as, “When you weigh those people, their sponsor failed on Affordable Housing? He failed on UHC? He failed on education matters?” were widely understood as a reference to Uhuru.
Ruto further accused the former President of organising and supporting political opponents to challenge his administration.
“Sasa ameenda kupanga vibaraka wake, anatuma hapa watu kuja kushindana na mimi. Hawa nitawaosha asubuhi na mapema. Wale watu umesikia maono na sera zao? Wale majamaa hawana mpango, sera, agenda na hata akili,” he said.
The President accused his opponents of lacking clear policy alternatives and challenged them to present their programmes to Kenyans instead of relying on political slogans and calls for his removal from office.
The exchange marks a growing political contest between the current administration and forces associated with the former President as political alliances take shape ahead of the 2027 elections.
Wamatangi, however, maintained that the focus of leaders should remain on addressing the country’s challenges and delivering services to citizens rather than engaging in attacks against retired political leaders.
