5 Powerful Uhuru Era Politicians Who Went Silent After Ruto Inauguration

An image of former president Uhuru Kenyatta handing over the Sword to President William Ruto at Kasarani Stadium, Nairobi.
Former President Uhuru Kenyatta hands over the sword to President William Ruto at Kasarani Stadium, Nairobi on September 13, 2022.
File

Campaign leading to the August 9 General Election was like something plucked out of a comic book replete with contenders of the throne and army generals surrounding the pursuit of a singular goal.

On one side, the then President Uhuru Kenyatta threw his weight behind his foe-turned-friend, Raila Odinga, who was seeking to succeed him at the house on the hill.

With the support of the then Head of State came a limitless supply of political heavyweights who worked in Uhuru’s regime among them former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i and ex-Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho.

On the other side, President William Ruto, who had served as Uhuru’s deputy during his 10-year reign and fell out with the establishment in the latter four years, was gunning for the top seat but had far fewer and less powerful operatives in his corner. Raila had the deep state.

Former interior CS Fred Matiang'i at a past event.
Former interior CS Fred Matiang'i at a past event.
File

When he took power on September 13, however, the former leaders who wielded power and were a constant subject of Kenya Kwanza’s bickering withered from the political scene and put on a lowkey modus operandi.

Here are six powerful leaders who have largely vacated the public stage and coiled tails since change of regimes;

  1. Fred Matiang’i

Throughout former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s reign, former CS Fred Matiang’i emerged among the most powerful Cabinet Secretaries to ever serve in his Cabinet.

Matiang’i was named in Uhuru's first cabinet as the ICT boss. In 2015, he took over the education docket  and immediately introduced a raft of reforms that saw the rate of exam cheating lowered significantly and speeding up the marking of papers to release the results before Christmas celebrations.

His controversial policies saw him become a mainstay in the press and quickly shifted to the Ministry of Interior - considered one of the most powerful.

During the campaigns, Ruto camp accused him of meddling in political activities and claimed that he was working for the former Prime Minister Raila Odinga. After the election concluded, the former super CS was seemingly erased from the public arena.

  1. Hassan Joho
Former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho
Former Mombasa Governor Hassan Joho.
File

A self-proclaimed diehard of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, former Mombasa Governor Ali Hassan Joho has shockingly fallen out of the political mill immediately President William Ruto rose to the top office.

Initially a foe of the Uhuru establishment, Joho cozied up to the regime after a truce between the then Head of State and the former Prime Minister. 

During the campaigns, Joho was angling for a prime slot in the Raila Government if the ODM leader rose to the House in the hill. His dream was, however, not to be.

After serving as Mombasa Governor for two terms and deputising Odinga in ODM's leadership, Joho is now a senior citizen, hardly heard or seen.

  1. Joe Mucheru
Former ICT CS Joe Mucheru
Former ICT CS Joe Mucheru.
File

Towards the end of Uhuru Kenyatta’s regime, ICT Cabinet Secretary Joe Mucheru emerged among the most vocal members of the then Cabinet.

Alongside Matiang’i, Mucheru was accused of meddling in the election campaigns in favour of the former Prime Minister who was, at the time, enjoying the support of the then Head of State.

During the campaign period, he constantly disclosed that opinion polls had placed the former Prime Minister ahead of his contender in the race but maintained that he could not use his influence to rig in Raila.

After Ruto won the election, however, Mucheru fell off the face of the political maze and is rarely heard. He had joined Uhuru’s Cabinet in 2015.

  1. Peter Munya
Former Agriculture Peter Munya during a past meeting
Former Agriculture Peter Munya during a past meeting.
File

Born in a humble background in Tigania East, former Agriculture CS Peter Munya’s entry into the Cabinet was the crowning jewel of his career in the public service.

The former Meru Governor ascended to the position in January 2020 replacing the then Agriculture CS Mwangi Kiunjuri who had been fired by Uhuru on claims that he had not delivered in the highly demanding Ministry.

Munya’s appointment caused unrest in some quarters but he was largely considered the next Mt Kenya kingpin following the footsteps of former President Uhuru. During his tenure, he overhauled revenue for tea and coffee farmers and was a common fixture in the news.

His light was, however, dimmed following Ruto’s win as the Head of State.

  1. Karanja Kibicho
Former Interior PS Karanja Kibicho
Former Interior PS Karanja Kibicho.
File

Former Interior Principal Secretary Karanja Kibicho is a man who needs no introduction owing to his tough-talking demeanor while managing one of the most powerful ministries in the country.

During his tenure, Kibicho was considered as former President Uhuru Kenyatta’s right-hand man and was so powerful in Government that even President-elect William Ruto felt that the PS was a threat to his State House bid.

Kibicho, at one point in the run up to the August 9 elections, was Kenya Kwanza's top agenda during political rallies. He was accused of commandeering the deep state that was hell bent to block Ruto.

After Ruto’s ascend to power, Kibicho handed over the office to his successor Raymond Omollo and has since gone mum.

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