Kenya: President Ruto accuses Uhuru Kenyatta of breaking succession pact

Political tensions are escalating in Kenya as President William Ruto faces criticism from both political rivals and press freedom advocates. Ruto has publicly accused retired President Uhuru Kenyatta of violating an informal ten-year power-sharing agreement. Ruto claims that his support for Kenyatta during the 2013 and 2017 elections was predicated on an understanding that Kenyatta would endorse his succession, an agreement Ruto says was breached when Kenyatta endorsed Raila Odinga in 2022.

Simultaneously, the administration is facing domestic unrest regarding media relations. Protesters gathered outside the Nairobi offices of The Standard, the country’s oldest newspaper, to denounce what they described as “negative and critical headlines targeting the government.” The demonstrations, involving pro-government groups, follow months of tension in which Ruto accused the publication of using shoddy journalism to extort his administration. During the protests, reports emerged of organizers distributing small cash payments to demonstrators, leading to localized friction among participants.