By Bradley Nandasaba, Nairobi
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has broken his silence, criticising President William Ruto and some leaders within the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) over what he described as the growing use of divisive ethnic politics and blame games ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Speaking during a Jubilee Party delegates’ meeting, Mr Kenyatta condemned recent remarks by some UDA leaders, describing them as divisive and a threat to national unity.
“We cannot build this country through tribal hatred and endless blame games. Leadership is about service delivery, not dividing Kenyans,” Mr Kenyatta said.
The former president warned leaders against using tribal and inflammatory language, reminding them of the 2007 post-election violence that left more than 1,000 people dead and displaced hundreds of thousands.
“Kenya did not just wake up in conflict overnight. It was the result of unchecked hate, tribal politics and leaders who failed to speak out in time,” he said.
Although he did not directly name individuals, Mr Kenyatta appeared to criticise the current administration for failing to address controversial remarks made by some UDA allies during a recent political event in Mombasa.
He insisted that no community or Kenyan should be politically targeted or threatened because of their ethnic background, saying all citizens deserve to live together peacefully.
“No Kenyan should ever feel threatened because of where they come from or the language they speak. We are one nation and we must protect that unity,” he added.
According to Mr Kenyatta, some leaders are openly making ethnically charged statements in the presence of senior government officials and members of the public without being challenged or corrected.
His remarks come amid criticism directed at UDA Secretary-General Hassan Omar over comments made during President Ruto’s recent tour of the Coast region.
Critics interpreted the remarks as targeting the Mt Kenya region and its communities, further heightening political tensions as the country moves towards the 2027 elections.
Mr Kenyatta described such rhetoric as dangerous and urged leaders not to repeat the mistakes that contributed to the 2007 violence.
“If leaders truly love this country, they must stop the politics of division before it is too late,” he said.
He called on the president and law enforcement agencies to act firmly against divisive politics if they were committed to protecting the country.
The former president urged Jubilee Party members and other political leaders to focus on development agendas and policy issues instead of tribal mobilisation.
“Sell your agenda to the people. Tell Kenyans what you will do for them instead of using tribe as a political tool,” he said.
Mr Kenyatta also called for the protection of peace and national cohesion, saying Kenya’s stability was more important than individual political ambitions.
He assured delegates that Jubilee would conduct free and fair internal elections, saying party positions would not be awarded on the basis of personal friendships.
“Democracy within the party must be respected. Positions should be earned fairly, not handed out through friendships,” he said.
Mr Kenyatta maintained that Jubilee was a national party and not one aligned to any single region or ethnic community.
The former president also criticised leaders who continue to blame previous administrations for current challenges, saying Kenyans were more interested in solutions, development and effective governance.
“Kenyans cannot feed their families with excuses and blame games. They want jobs, development and a government that works,” he said.
Mr Kenyatta added that he was willing to help address the country’s challenges if called upon, insisting that blame games and tribal politics would not move the country forward.
“If there is any way I can help this country move forward, I am ready. But tribal politics and constant blame will never solve our problems,” he said.
