Uhuru Kenyatta Political Career: From KANU Leader to Kenya’s Fourth President

Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta is one of the most influential figures in Kenya’s political history. The son of Kenya’s first president, Jomo Kenyatta, Uhuru entered national politics carrying one of the country’s most recognizable political names. Yet his political career was far from a simple inheritance.

He experienced a major presidential defeat, became an opposition leader, rose through government, faced an International Criminal Court case linked to the 2007–2008 post-election violence, won two presidential elections, survived the annulment of one of those victories, and later dramatically fell out with his own deputy, William Ruto.

Uhuru Kenyatta served as Kenya’s fourth president from April 2013 to September 2022. He succeeded Mwai Kibaki and was succeeded by William Ruto. His decade in power was defined by major infrastructure projects, devolution, digital government, economic and social programs, political realignments, the 2018 Handshake with Raila Odinga, and intense political controversy.

Even after leaving State House, Kenyatta remained active in regional diplomacy and peace efforts. He participated in the African Union-led Ethiopian peace process and served as a facilitator in the East African Community-led Nairobi Process concerning peace in the eastern Democratic Republic of Congo.

Early Political Background

Uhuru Kenyatta was born on October 26, 1961, in Nairobi. He is the son of Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya’s independence leader and first president, and Mama Ngina Kenyatta.

Although his family name was already deeply embedded in Kenyan politics, Uhuru did not immediately enter electoral politics after completing his education. His rise into active politics became particularly visible in the late 1990s and early 2000s as Kenya moved towards a competitive multiparty political system.

His political journey took a decisive turn when the ruling Kenya African National Union (KANU) selected him as its presidential candidate for the 2002 General Election.

That election was a major test for Uhuru. KANU had dominated Kenyan politics for decades, but the opposition National Rainbow Coalition (NARC), led by Mwai Kibaki, mounted a powerful campaign for change.

Uhuru lost the presidential election to Kibaki. The defeat, however, did not end his political ambitions. Instead, it marked the beginning of his long journey as a national opposition politician. Kenya’s Presidential Library records that after the 2002 election, Kenyatta became opposition leader and remained in that role until 2007.

Uhuru Kenyatta as KANU Leader

After his 2002 presidential defeat, Uhuru Kenyatta became one of the country’s most prominent opposition politicians.

In 2005, he was elected chairman of KANU, defeating Nicholas Biwott in a party delegates’ vote. His leadership came at a politically important time as President Kibaki’s government pushed for constitutional reform.

Uhuru’s KANU opposed the draft constitution during the 2005 referendum. He also worked with politicians who had broken away from Kibaki’s government, helping create political alignments that would later contribute to the formation of the Orange Democratic Movement.

His position within KANU was subsequently challenged, but he remained an important figure in Kenyan politics.

The period also demonstrated an important characteristic of Uhuru Kenyatta’s political career: his ability to survive changing alliances and remain relevant even when political circumstances appeared to be moving against him.

The 2007 Election and Alliance with Mwai Kibaki

The 2007 General Election changed the direction of Uhuru Kenyatta’s political career.

Rather than running against Mwai Kibaki for the presidency, Uhuru backed Kibaki’s re-election bid. The election was highly disputed, and the disagreement over the presidential results triggered the 2007–2008 post-election crisis, one of the darkest periods in Kenya’s post-independence history.

A power-sharing arrangement was eventually reached. Kibaki remained president, while Raila Odinga became prime minister.

Uhuru Kenyatta subsequently entered government. He was appointed Minister for Local Government and later became Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Trade. He was eventually moved to the Ministry of Finance, where he served as Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister. Kenya’s National Treasury records him as Finance Minister from 2008 to 2013 and as the last holder of the position before the full implementation of the 2010 constitutional system.

His time at Treasury gave him valuable experience in national economic management and significantly strengthened his credentials for another presidential campaign.

The ICC Case and the Rise of “Uhuruto”

Uhuru’s political career became internationally controversial because of allegations relating to the violence that followed the 2007 presidential election.

The International Criminal Court charged him with five counts of crimes against humanity in connection with the 2007–2008 post-election violence. The charges included allegations relating to murder, deportation or forcible transfer, rape, persecution and other inhumane acts.

Importantly, these were allegations, not convictions. The ICC prosecution eventually withdrew the charges on December 5, 2014, and the Trial Chamber terminated the proceedings on March 13, 2015. The ICC’s case record states that the case was closed after the charges were withdrawn due to insufficient evidence.

The ICC case also contributed to a remarkable political alliance.

Uhuru Kenyatta, a Kikuyu politician, joined forces with William Ruto, a Kalenjin politician who had previously been associated with the opposing political camp. Their partnership became popularly known as “Uhuruto.”

The alliance was politically significant because the two communities had been on opposing sides during the 2007–2008 post-election violence. Their new partnership was presented as a way of overcoming the political divisions that had contributed to the earlier crisis.

Formation of The National Alliance and Jubilee

Ahead of the 2013 General Election, Uhuru Kenyatta established The National Alliance (TNA). William Ruto’s United Republican Party (URP) then joined with TNA and other parties to create the Jubilee Alliance.

The alliance presented Uhuru and Ruto as a new generation of Kenyan political leadership.

Their campaign focused on themes including national unity, economic growth, and government openness. Their political partnership also benefited from support across Central Kenya and the Rift Valley.

The 2013 election became one of the most important moments in Uhuru Kenyatta’s political career.

Uhuru Kenyatta Wins the 2013 Presidential Election

The 2013 General Election was Kenya’s first presidential election under the 2010 Constitution.

Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto won the election with just over 50 percent of the vote, avoiding a presidential runoff by a narrow margin. The Jubilee ticket defeated the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy (CORD), led by Raila Odinga and Kalonzo Musyoka.

Uhuru was sworn in as Kenya’s fourth president on April 9, 2013.

His election represented the culmination of more than a decade of political transformation. He had gone from presidential candidate and opposition leader to cabinet minister, deputy prime minister, and, finally, head of state.

Uhuru Kenyatta’s First Term as President

Uhuru’s first term focused heavily on infrastructure, economic development, technology, devolution and government transformation.

His administration operated under the new constitutional framework created by the 2010 Constitution. One of the most important changes was the strengthening of county governments and the transfer of various functions and resources from the national government to the counties.

Infrastructure became one of the defining features of his presidency.

The administration invested heavily in roads, railways, energy projects, airports and other public infrastructure. One of the most prominent projects was the Standard Gauge Railway (SGR), which connected Mombasa to Nairobi and was later extended towards Naivasha.

The government also promoted digital transformation, including e-government services and expanded use of technology in public administration.

The administration’s supporters viewed these developments as evidence of Kenya’s modernization. Critics, however, raised concerns about public debt, project costs, procurement, and the economic returns from some large infrastructure investments.

The 2017 Presidential Election

Uhuru Kenyatta sought a second term in the 2017 General Election under the Jubilee Party.

He again faced Raila Odinga, who was now leading the National Super Alliance (NASA).

The August 8, 2017 election initially resulted in an Uhuru Kenyatta victory. However, Raila Odinga challenged the result at the Supreme Court.

In a historic decision, Kenya’s Supreme Court nullified the presidential election and ordered a fresh vote. It was the first time a presidential election result had been annulled by a court in Kenya. The court cited irregularities and illegalities in the conduct of the election.

Uhuru Kenyatta accepted the decision while publicly disagreeing with it, and a fresh presidential election was held in October 2017.

Raila Odinga boycotted the repeat election, and Uhuru Kenyatta was declared the winner.

The episode became an important chapter in Kenya’s constitutional and democratic history because it demonstrated the ability of the judiciary to overturn a presidential election result.

The Jubilee Government’s Second Term

Uhuru’s second term was initially expected to continue the political partnership with William Ruto.

However, their relationship gradually deteriorated.

The disagreement became increasingly visible after Uhuru’s March 2018 political agreement with Raila Odinga.

The 2018 Handshake with Raila Odinga

On March 9, 2018, Uhuru Kenyatta and Raila Odinga shocked the country when they publicly reconciled in what became known as the “Handshake.”

The two men had been fierce political opponents during the 2017 election, but they agreed to work together on national unity, reconciliation and other national issues.

The Handshake significantly changed Kenya’s political landscape.

It reduced political tensions following the 2017 election and eventually led to the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI), a constitutional reform process that sought to address some of Kenya’s longstanding political and institutional challenges.

However, the Handshake also created a major political split between Uhuru and William Ruto.

Ruto increasingly positioned himself outside the government’s emerging political arrangement, while Uhuru became closer to Raila Odinga and other political leaders.

The political relationship between Uhuru and Ruto, once one of the most important alliances in Kenya, had effectively collapsed by the time the 2022 election approached.

Building Bridges Initiative

The BBI became one of the most controversial political projects of Uhuru Kenyatta’s second term.

The initiative was presented as an effort to address divisions associated with Kenya’s winner-takes-all political system and to promote national cohesion.

Among its proposals were changes to the structure of government and the creation of additional political positions.

Supporters argued that the reforms could encourage broader political inclusion and reduce the winner-takes-all nature of presidential elections.

Opponents, including political forces aligned with William Ruto, argued that the initiative was designed to benefit the political establishment and extend the influence of the sitting president.

The BBI process ultimately faced major legal challenges. Kenya’s courts found problems with the manner in which the constitutional amendment process had been initiated, effectively bringing the proposed changes to an end.

Uhuru Kenyatta and the Big Four Agenda

During his second term, Uhuru Kenyatta introduced the Big Four Agenda as a central development programme.

The four priority areas were:

• Manufacturing
• Affordable housing
• Universal health coverage
• Food security

The agenda was intended to build on Kenya’s economic development strategy while addressing some of the country’s most persistent social and economic challenges.

The affordable housing programme sought to increase access to decent and affordable homes. The manufacturing agenda aimed to expand industrial production and employment. Food security focused on increasing agricultural productivity and reducing dependence on food imports, while universal health coverage sought to expand access to healthcare.

The implementation of these programmes was affected by economic pressures, including the COVID-19 pandemic, which disrupted economies around the world.

COVID-19 and the Final Years in Office

The COVID-19 pandemic became one of the defining events of Uhuru Kenyatta’s final years in office.

Kenya introduced restrictions, curfews and public health measures as the government attempted to contain the spread of the virus.

The pandemic also exposed and intensified economic challenges. Businesses were affected, unemployment increased and government finances came under additional pressure.

Uhuru’s administration also continued to pursue major infrastructure projects and public-sector reforms during this period.

At the same time, debates over government borrowing, taxation, corruption and the cost of living became increasingly prominent.

Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto’s Political Fallout

Perhaps the most dramatic political development of Uhuru’s second term was the collapse of his relationship with William Ruto.

The two had won the 2013 and 2017 presidential elections together, but after the 2018 Handshake, their political interests increasingly diverged.

Uhuru became more closely associated with Raila Odinga, while Ruto developed the “Hustler” political movement and eventually left the Jubilee political establishment.

By the 2022 election, the former political partners had become opponents.

Uhuru Kenyatta supported Raila Odinga’s presidential campaign under the Azimio La Umoja coalition. William Ruto ran under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Kenya Kwanza coalition.

Ruto eventually won the election, bringing Uhuru Kenyatta’s decade-long presidency to an end.

Uhuru Kenyatta Leaves State House

Uhuru Kenyatta completed his constitutional two-term limit in 2022.

He was succeeded by William Ruto, his former deputy and political partner.

His departure marked the end of the second Kenyatta presidency in Kenya’s history. His father, Jomo Kenyatta, had been Kenya’s first president from independence until his death in 1978.

Uhuru’s presidency therefore represented a unique chapter in Kenyan political history: a father and son had both occupied the country’s highest office.

Unlike his father’s era, however, Uhuru governed under the 2010 Constitution, which introduced stronger institutional checks, devolution and a two-term presidential limit.

Uhuru Kenyatta After the Presidency

Leaving State House did not mean the end of Uhuru Kenyatta’s public political role.

After his presidency, he increasingly became involved in regional peace and mediation initiatives.

In 2022, he joined the African Union high-level panel involved in peace talks between the Ethiopian government and the Tigray People’s Liberation Front. The talks resulted in the November 2, 2022 Cessation of Hostilities Agreement.

Kenyatta also became involved in the East African Community-led Nairobi Process concerning peace in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. In this role, he engaged with political and armed actors in efforts to promote a peaceful settlement.

His post-presidential activities therefore shifted from domestic executive politics toward regional diplomacy and conflict resolution.

Uhuru Kenyatta’s Political Legacy

Assessing Uhuru Kenyatta’s political legacy is complicated because his ten years in power produced both notable achievements and major controversies.

His supporters point to infrastructure development, the expansion of county governments, digital transformation, major road and railway projects, improvements in electricity access and efforts to expand social services.

His critics point to rising public debt, the cost of major infrastructure projects, corruption concerns, taxation pressures and the political controversies surrounding his administration.

His political career is equally complex.

He began as a KANU presidential candidate, became an opposition leader, served in several cabinet positions, formed a powerful alliance with William Ruto, won two presidential elections, experienced the historic annulment of one of those victories, reconciled with his longtime rival Raila Odinga and eventually supported Odinga against his former deputy.

The Handshake also remains central to discussions about his legacy. Supporters see it as a major contribution to national peace and political stability following the tensions of 2017. Critics view the subsequent BBI process as an attempt by the political elite to reshape the constitutional order for political advantage.

Uhuru Kenyatta’s Place in Kenyan Political History

Uhuru Kenyatta’s political career mirrors many of the major changes Kenya has experienced since the beginning of the 21st century.

His rise coincided with the decline of KANU’s dominance. His presidency unfolded under the 2010 Constitution and the new system of devolved government. His political alliances reflected Kenya’s constantly shifting coalition politics, while his disagreements with former allies demonstrated how quickly political relationships can change.

He also became one of the few Kenyan politicians to experience almost every major level of national political leadership: presidential candidate, opposition leader, party leader, cabinet minister, deputy prime minister and president.

His story is therefore more than a biography of a former head of state. It is also a story about Kenya’s transition from the old political order to the constitutional, coalition-driven and highly competitive politics of the 21st century.

Conclusion

Uhuru Kenyatta’s political career remains one of the most consequential in modern Kenya.

From his unsuccessful 2002 presidential campaign to his leadership of KANU, cabinet appointments under Mwai Kibaki, partnership with William Ruto, election as Kenya’s fourth president in 2013 and re-election in 2017, his political journey was marked by dramatic victories and equally significant controversies.

His presidency transformed Kenya’s infrastructure landscape and oversaw the implementation of major development programmes, but it was also accompanied by debates over debt, governance, corruption, political power and the cost of government projects.

His reconciliation with Raila Odinga in 2018 fundamentally changed Kenyan politics and contributed to the eventual collapse of his alliance with William Ruto.

Since leaving office in 2022, Kenyatta has increasingly taken on a regional peace-making role, participating in efforts related to Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of Congo.

Whatever future historians conclude about his presidency, Uhuru Kenyatta has already secured a permanent place in Kenya’s political history. His career spans the old KANU era, the post-2002 coalition era, the adoption of the 2010 Constitution, the rise of Jubilee politics, the Handshake and the emergence of a new political generation after 2022.