Uhuru Kenyatta Forgives Mt Kenya Voters Over 2022 Polls, Issues 2027 Warning

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has said he holds no grudge against the Mt Kenya region for rejecting his preferred presidential candidate in the 2022 General Election, while urging voters not to repeat what he described as a mistake in the 2027 polls.

Speaking on Monday during celebrations to mark his 65th birthday, Uhuru said he had already forgiven residents of the region for defying his political direction and voting overwhelmingly for President William Ruto instead of the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

“I forgave you [Mt Kenya] long ago. To err is not a mistake, but to repeat it,” Uhuru said during an interview in his native Kikuyu language with a local vernacular radio station.

“I am sure people will not repeat it. That is why I am telling leaders to unite to do what the masses want. I have nothing more to add but to wish everyone all the best.”

In the 2022 elections, Uhuru backed Raila under the Azimio la Umoja coalition after his political fallout with Ruto, who was then his deputy.

Despite Uhuru’s efforts to rally the Mt Kenya electorate behind Raila, the region largely voted for Ruto, who ran on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket. Ruto secured approximately 7.1 million votes nationally against Raila’s 6.9 million, with Mt Kenya accounting for a significant share of the president’s support.

Reflecting on his relationship with the region, Uhuru said he continued to pray for its residents and urged them to remain united amid the country’s economic and political challenges.

“I have nothing much, only to thank you for remembering me today. I have continued remembering you as we pray for the country; even as times get hard, there is no problem,” he said.

“We are still there. We thank God for the gift of life. I am praying for our people to continue uniting and loving each other.”

The former president also called for forgiveness and restraint, warning against political hostility and verbal attacks that could deepen divisions within communities.

“Everyone wrongs each other. Even I, personally, have been wronged. Let’s learn to forgive each other,” he said.

“Our unity and togetherness are our strength. There is no need for people to hurl insults at each other, as I sometimes overhear. People should remain calm. They should unite and love each other, work together.”

Uhuru, who served as president from 2013 to 2022, further urged Kenyans to place national interests above individual political ambitions, arguing that the country’s future should take precedence over disagreements among leaders.

“The country is bigger than anybody, including myself,” he said.

He called on Kenyans to safeguard peace and work towards building a country that future generations would be proud of, maintaining that such progress would be difficult to achieve without unity.

“Our duty, all of us, is to ensure that we maintain peace in the country; we have kept it the right way, and we have made a country which our descendants will love. We can’t achieve that without being united.”

Uhuru added that Kenyans should resolve political and social disputes through dialogue and forgiveness instead of allowing disagreements to fuel further divisions.

“Even when problems arise, we are the ones who will solve them. We can’t solve them without being united and forgiving each other,” he said.

He concluded by urging Kenyans to persevere through difficult times, remain united and continue praying for the country.

“People should continue persevering, to unite and put everything before our Lord…people should love each other.”

“Wabarikiwe na nchi yetu ibarikiwe na iendelee kubarikiwa,” he added, wishing Kenyans well and praying for continued blessings upon the country.