Kenya’s endless betrayal politics of those in power
🇰🇪 Kenya’s endless betrayal politics of those in power
«“What has been will be again. There is nothing new under the sun.”»
Kenya’s political history is a long story of ambition, suspicion, betrayal and irony — especially between presidents, vice presidents, deputies and powerful number-twos.
From Jomo Kenyatta’s fallout with Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, to Moi and Saitoti, Moi and Kibaki, To William Ruto and Uhuru,, Ruto and Rigathi Gachagua today, the script has remained painfully familiar: a deputy rises with hope, serves with loyalty, gathers influence — then becomes a threat, is isolated, humiliated or pushed out.
1️⃣ Kenyatta & Jaramogi: The First Great Fallout
At independence, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga stood firmly with Jomo Kenyatta. He famously refused to take power while Kenyatta was still in detention, insisting that there would be no independence without Kenyatta.
When Kenya became independent, Jaramogi became Vice President. But the marriage did not last. Ideological differences, power struggles and suspicion soon poisoned their relationship.
Jaramogi leaned towards socialism and radical redistribution, while Kenyatta’s government embraced a more conservative, capitalist and pro-Western direction. As Jaramogi’s influence grew, he became increasingly uncomfortable inside government.
In 1966, he resigned as Vice President and formed the Kenya People’s Union, becoming Kenyatta’s fiercest opponent. The state responded with hostility. His allies were harassed, his party was frustrated, and after the 1969 Kisumu incident, KPU was banned and Jaramogi was detained.
The first deputy had fallen out with the first president — and Kenya’s pattern of betrayal at the top had officially begun.
2️⃣ Kenyatta & Moi: The Stoic Survivor
In the 1970s, as Kenyatta’s health declined, another succession war began. A powerful cabal of politicians mainly from Central Kenya tried to stop Vice President Daniel arap Moi from automatically taking over.
At the fiery 1976 Nakuru rally, the Change-the-Constitution Movement — associated with leaders such as Kihika Kimani, Njenga Karume, James Gichuru, Dr Njoroge Mungai and others — pushed for constitutional amendments to block Moi’s automatic succession.
Moi was mocked, harassed and labelled unfit to lead. Yet he stayed calm, quietly leaning on the Constitution and on loyal figures such as Charles Njonjo.
When Kenyatta died in 1978, Moi took over smoothly — and remained in power for 24 years. Ironically, the same Moi later hounded out Charles Njonjo, the man who had helped secure his transition.
3️⃣ Moi & Kibaki: The Quiet Exit
Mwai Kibaki served as Moi’s Vice President for 10 years, from 1978 to 1988. He was calm, intelligent and loyal, but his quiet popularity made Moi uncomfortable.
In 1988, Moi demoted Kibaki from the vice presidency to the Ministry of Health — a humiliating political downgrade.
Kibaki later resigned from government in 1991, joined opposition politics, and in 2002 defeated Moi’s chosen successor, Uhuru Kenyatta.
The man pushed aside eventually returned through the ballot.
4️⃣ Moi & Saitoti: Loyalty Until It Hurts
George Saitoti served Moi loyally for many years and became one of Kenya’s longest-serving Vice Presidents. He defended the system, carried the burden of loyalty, and waited for his moment.
But in 2002, when succession came, Moi chose Uhuru Kenyatta instead.
Saitoti was cast aside with the cold political line:
«“There comes a time when the nation is more important than an individual.”»
Betrayed and humiliated, Saitoti joined the opposition and helped Kibaki defeat Moi’s project.
5️⃣ Kibaki & Raila: The Unhappy Marriage
In 2002, Raila Odinga played a decisive role in Kibaki’s rise to power with the famous declaration: “Kibaki Tosha!”
But after victory, Raila and his allies felt betrayed when the pre-election power-sharing agreement was not fully honoured.
The relationship collapsed into mistrust, leading to the 2005 referendum fallout, the bitter 2007 election, post-election violence, and the uneasy grand coalition government brokered by Kofi Annan.
Once again, the number two force that helped deliver power became an enemy inside the same system.
6️⃣ Uhuru & Ruto: Brothers Turned Rivals
In 2013, Uhuru Kenyatta and William Ruto came together as UhuRuto. They faced ICC cases, campaigned as brothers, and won two elections together.
But after the 2018 handshake between Uhuru and Raila, the relationship changed. Ruto was isolated, his allies were removed from key positions, and his 2022 ambitions were openly resisted by the same government he had helped build.
Like Moi and Kibaki before him, Ruto endured humiliation, waited patiently, and eventually defeated the establishment in 2022 to become Kenya’s fifth President.
7️⃣ Ruto & Gachagua: The Fall of a Deputy
Ruto chose Rigathi Gachagua as his Deputy President in 2022. Gachagua was loyal, combative and fiercely protective of Ruto’s political interests, especially in the Mt Kenya region.
But within two years, history rhymed again. Gachagua was sidelined, publicly humiliated, politically isolated and painted as divisive.
In October 2024, Parliament impeached him on allegations including corruption, insubordination and ethnic incitement. The Senate upheld the impeachment, making him the first Deputy President in Kenya’s history to be removed from office.
Ruto replaced him with Kithure Kindiki.
Gachagua has now been out of government for some time, but his political shadow has not disappeared. Like many deputies before him, he has turned his removal into a political grievance, fighting for relevance, sympathy and a possible comeback.
🔷 Why Does This Keep Happening?
Kenyan presidents rarely trust strong deputies.
Deputies rarely remain content as ceremonial number-twos.
The moment a deputy develops a political base, the presidency begins to see them not as a partner, but as a rival.
And once suspicion enters the room, betrayal usually follows.
From Kenyatta and Jaramogi, Kenyatta and Moi, Moi and Kibaki, Moi and Saitoti, Kibaki and Raila, Uhuru and Ruto, to Ruto and Gachagua, the story remains the same.
Only the names change.
Maybe Kenya’s problem is a political culture that fears succession, punishes loyalty, and treats every ambitious number two as an enemy waiting to happen.
Indeed, there is nothing new under the sun.
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