President Uhuru Kenyatta's decision to sit in the Azimio's Council as the chairperson puts him in a delicate position as the country readies for a new regime - the William Ruto government.
In the run up to the polls, Uhuru publicly endorsed Azimio presidential candidate Raila Odinga and his running mate Martha Wangari Karua.
The outgoing Head of State unleashed the entire state machinery, including his cabinet to rally behind Odinga, who was having a fifth stab at the presidency - but the former Prime Minister lost to Ruto.
Rejecting the poll's outcome, Raila moved to the Supreme Court to challenge Ruto's win. Azimio suffered another defeat after the Supreme Court unanimously validated the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) chairperson to announce Ruto as the President-elect.
Role in Opposition
With all options exhausted, Uhuru, in a pre-recorded address, promised a smooth transition while at the same time calling for scrutiny of the apex court verdict, which sent a clear signal of his role in opposition.
"While we must appreciate these institutions, we must hold them to account. Their truth has to be consistent and coherent. This is the only way we build our democracy," he stated.
Speaking to Kenyans.co.ke, Social Development Consultant and political analyst Nafula Kisiang’ani affirmed that Uhuru is at crossroads whether to continue serving as Azimio Council chairperson and hold Ruto's government accountable or relinquish that role and exit active politics.
With him at the helm of Azimio, he will be part of the opposition team. Unlike his predecessors who quit active politics, his Azimio position would expose him to scrutiny from the ruling administration.
Apart from scrutiny, Kisiang'ani added that Uhuru's bid to influence the opposition's business is already being watered down following a series of defections from the Coalition. United Democratic Movement (UDM) led by outgoing Mandera Governor Ali Roba, already decamped from Azimio to join Kenya Kwanza.
"Ruto was strategic from the beginning. He has already weakened the opposition and you won't be surprised if other elected members decamp from Azimio," Kisiang'ani stated.
Having built a reputable international image, Uhuru's presence in the opposition would dent his chance of landing other roles. Before his term lapsed, he was tasked with ending fighting in some parts of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC).
However, according to Kisiang'ani, Uhuru would not lose his hefty package even if he continued pushing for reforms while in opposition, including the revival of the Building Bridges Initiative (BBI).
Another Handshake
However, according to Arnold Maliba, a governance expert, Uhuru will most likely extend an olive branch to Ruto. With Raila out of government, he has nothing to gain.
His Jubilee Party also won less than 20 elective posts in the August 9 polls, making it even hard for him to control the senate and National Assembly.
"Uhuru does not like being on the part of the bread that is not buttered. He will find a way to work with Ruto. Remember how he shook hands with Raila before he even embraced Ruto."
"His speech on calling for scrutiny is just hot air, maybe he is trying to find closure. But he stands to gain nothing in Azimio with Ruto at the helm of the country's leadership. He would have had his say if Raila had floored the Kenya Kwanza Candidate," Kisiang'ani explained.
The need to protect the family empire may also compel the outgoing President to drop his ambitions for Azimio and rally his troops to pledge loyalty to Ruto's presidency. Already, the Pandora report exposed several offshore accounts and assets linked to the first family.
Other than offshore accounts, family businesses in the country will require goodwill from the government to thrive.
In his address to the Nation, Uhuru refused to mention or congratulate Ruto. "I want to wish well all who have won as they guide our country into the future. And I thank you all for the opportunity to serve. And I say, may God bless you all and may God bless this great Republic of Kenya," he stated.
The instructive story that informs Africa's political landscape, where leaders fear being hunted down by their successors, also delayed Uhuru's decision to congratulate Ruto as the President-elect.
Political experts thus have suggested that there be some assurance that the former ruler will not be made to account for their deeds to assure seamless transition.
