Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta has stepped down as Chairperson of the Azimio la Umoja coalition’s Council with immediate effect, saying it is time to give the next generation of leaders an opportunity to take charge ahead of the 2027 General Election.
In a letter dated Tuesday, October 5 and obtained by Vantage Ke, Uhuru formally communicated his resignation from the coalition leadership position, marking a significant change in his formal role within the opposition political establishment.
Uhuru said his decision was informed by the need to create room for younger leaders to take over and shape the country’s political future.
“Leadership is not about clinging to positions; it is about knowing when to step aside and allow the next generation to navigate the waters,” Uhuru stated in part.
The former President, however, made it clear that his resignation should not be interpreted as abandoning the political movement or the ideals it represents.
He said he would remain available to provide counsel and support whenever required, while continuing to identify with the broader political cause.
“I remain committed to the ideals we have fought for, and I will continue to offer counsel and support whenever called upon,” he said.
Uhuru also defended the continued relevance of political coalitions, arguing that such formations should be based on shared convictions rather than short-term electoral interests.
“A coalition is not a temporary alliance of convenience but a covenant of conviction,” he stated.
His resignation comes after a series of changes in his formal political roles as parties reorganise ahead of the 2027 elections. Uhuru recently handed over the leadership of the Jubilee Party to former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i, while retaining an advisory role within the party.
He announced his intention to step down on September 15, following a High Court ruling by Justice Lawrence Mugambi enforcing Section 6 of the Presidential Retirement Benefits Act, which prohibits retired presidents from holding political party positions more than six months after leaving office.
The latest move now sees him relinquish another prominent leadership position within the opposition coalition.
The coalition has since adopted the name The Ukombozi Alliance (TUA), with the party leadership moving to reassure supporters that Uhuru’s resignation does not amount to his departure from the political movement.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, October 7, TUA Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka thanked Uhuru for his contribution to the coalition and acknowledged his resignation from the Council leadership.
Kalonzo said Uhuru remained part of the political family despite stepping down from the formal position.
“He remains a committed member of the Azimio family, ready to support from the ranks and to offer counsel when called upon,” Kalonzo said.
He added that Uhuru would be invited for an official visit during which the formal handover ceremony would take place.
Kalonzo also sought to clarify the structure of the coalition’s leadership, stressing that the Chair of Council and Party Leader were separate positions.
He said Uhuru had relinquished the Council-level position, while the Party Leader remained responsible for the political and executive affairs of the party.
“The Party Leader is the political and executive head of the party. He speaks for the party, runs its day-to-day affairs, represents it before the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties and other institutions, and answers to its members,” Kalonzo stated.
“I hold that office, and it is unaffected by President Kenyatta’s resignation. There is no vacuum at the helm of Ukombozi, and no change in the party’s leadership, direction or programme.”
Kalonzo further confirmed that the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties had reserved the name The Ukombozi Alliance, with the party completing the remaining compliance requirements.
Uhuru’s decision is likely to trigger renewed debate over the future direction and leadership of the opposition ahead of 2027.
His letter, however, does not name a successor or endorse a particular politician to take over his role. Nonetheless, Vantage Ke has learnt that DCP party leader Rigathi Gachagua and Siaya Governor James Orengo are tipped to replace Kenya's 4th president at that position.
