Former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta has expressed his conviction that Raila Odinga won the 2022 presidential election, contradicting the official results that declared William Ruto the winner. Kenyatta made these remarks on September 22, 2026, during a Jubilee Party National Executive Committee meeting in Nairobi. He revisited his decision to support Odinga in the August 9, 2022 election and stated that Odinga received the most votes.
Kenyatta questioned how Odinga's Azimio la Umoja-One Kenya Coalition performed well in parliamentary and county elections but lost the presidency. He asked, "How can you say we were defeated when we had most of the MPs, governors and senators? How were we defeated in the presidency?" This suggests that Kenyatta is still puzzled by the outcome of the election and believes that Odinga's coalition had a strong showing in other areas.
According to the official presidential results, the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) declared Ruto the winner with 7,176,141 votes, or 50.49%, against Odinga's 6,942,930 votes, or 48.85%. Ruto's official margin was 233,211 votes. Odinga challenged the result at the Supreme Court, but the court unanimously dismissed the petitions challenging Ruto's victory and upheld his election.
Kenyatta later handed over the presidency to Ruto after the court process. His latest comments represent his personal account of the 2022 contest rather than a change to the official election result. He did not present new election figures in his remarks that overturn the figures declared by the IEBC. This indicates that Kenyatta's claims do not alter the official outcome of the election.
The former president also rejected criticism that he had failed to support Odinga during the campaign. Referring to himself as Odinga's "handyman", Kenyatta said he had done what he could to help his former political ally win the presidency. This response suggests that Kenyatta feels he did his part to support Odinga's campaign.
The 2022 election remains a major point of political debate in Kenya, particularly as parties and politicians position themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election. Kenyatta's latest remarks reopen that debate more than four years after the vote and come as he remains active in Jubilee Party politics. His comments are likely to generate discussion and interest among Kenyans and politicians.
The former president also called for restraint in the political contest ahead, warning against what he described as "dirty politics" and urging politicians to focus on presenting their manifestos rather than dividing Kenyans. This appeal for calm and issue-based politics may help set the tone for the upcoming election.
Key points
- Uhuru Kenyatta claims Raila Odinga won the 2022 presidential election despite official results declaring William Ruto the winner.
- Kenyatta questioned how Odinga's coalition performed well in other elections but lost the presidency.
- Kenyatta called for restraint in the upcoming political contest and urged politicians to focus on presenting their manifestos.
