CS Kabogo Defends Uhuru Kenyatta Over Failures During Former Government

CS Kabogo Defends Uhuru Kenyatta Over Failures During Former Government

ICT and Digital Economy Cabinet Secretary William Kabogo has defended former President Uhuru Kenyatta amid renewed criticism of his administration’s record, arguing that President William Ruto cannot completely distance himself from the government’s performance.

Speaking during an interview with Kameme FM on Monday, August 17, Kabogo said Ruto and Uhuru should be judged together on the achievements and shortcomings of the administration they led between 2013 and 2022.

Kabogo, a former Kiambu governor, pointed out that Ruto served as Uhuru’s deputy president for the entire 10-year period.

He argued that the two leaders were elected on the same ticket and therefore shared responsibility for the decisions made and policies implemented during their time in government.

“Sometimes politics is a very dirty game. The current president was Uhuru’s deputy. If they succeeded, they succeeded together, and if they failed, they failed together. They were joined at the hip by a common ticket.”

Kabogo said it would be difficult for Ruto to claim credit for successful projects implemented during the Jubilee administration while blaming Uhuru alone for areas where the government fell short.

His remarks come amid renewed political exchanges between Ruto and his predecessor as leaders position themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Ruto Criticises Uhuru’s Government

President Ruto has recently stepped up criticism of the former administration, questioning its record on several major development programmes.

Speaking at a rally in Eldoret on Thursday, August 13, Ruto criticised the delivery of projects and programmes associated with the Uhuru administration, including affordable housing, universal health coverage and education.

The president also accused Uhuru of supporting opposition groups seeking to challenge his administration in the 2027 elections.

“When you look at those people, didn’t their sponsor fail at matters of affordable housing? Now he has gone to organise his proxies, sending people here to come and compete with me.”

Ruto has previously defended his own administration’s record while accusing political opponents of lacking a clear policy agenda.

The president has also maintained that his government has made progress in areas such as infrastructure, healthcare, education and economic reforms.

Kabogo Challenges Political Narrative

Kabogo’s comments challenge the increasingly common political narrative that places responsibility for the Jubilee administration’s failures primarily on Uhuru.

The former Kiambu governor said Ruto’s role as deputy president should remain part of the discussion whenever the performance of the former government is assessed.

The relationship between Uhuru and Ruto has undergone a major transformation since they fell out during the second term of the Jubilee administration.

The two leaders initially worked closely after their 2013 election victory and secured a second term in 2017. However, their relationship deteriorated after the 2018 political agreement between Uhuru and opposition leader Raila Odinga.

Ruto subsequently launched his own presidential campaign and won the 2022 election.

Uhuru, who supported Raila’s presidential bid in the 2022 election, has since largely remained outside active government, although his name has increasingly featured in political debates surrounding the 2027 contest.

2027 Politics Intensify

The latest exchange comes as political alliances continue to shift ahead of the next General Election.

Ruto is seeking to secure a second term, while opposition leaders and emerging political movements are working to build a coalition capable of challenging the Kenya Kwanza administration.

Uhuru’s perceived influence has also become a growing point of political debate, with government allies accusing him of supporting opposition mobilisation.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has separately urged Ruto to stop focusing on Uhuru and instead face his political competitors directly.

Kabogo’s intervention adds another voice to the debate over the legacy of the Jubilee government and the extent to which its successes and failures should be attributed to both Uhuru and Ruto.

As the 2027 political contest gathers momentum, the competing assessments of the former administration are likely to remain a major feature of Kenya’s political debate.

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CS Kabogo Defends Uhuru Kenyatta Over Failures During Former Government