Former President Uhuru Kenyatta and President William Ruto have opened a fresh political confrontation ahead of the 2027 General Election, reviving memories of the bitter fallout that followed their Jubilee-era partnership.

Uhuru has rejected claims that he is sponsoring opposition politicians, insisting that Kenyans should be free to choose their leaders without coercion and that he has no interest in returning to the presidency after serving two terms.

Ruto, meanwhile, has continued criticising his predecessor and portraying himself as willing to work with anyone who supports what he describes as a national agenda, while accusing some opposition figures of trying to destabilise his administration.

The exchange is likely to deepen competition over Mount Kenya and opposition coalition politics as the 2027 race begins to take clearer shape.