NAIROBI, Kenya, October 26, 2026 — Former President Uhuru Kenyatta has urged Mt Kenya residents to put political bitterness behind them, warning that repeated mistakes and divisions could weaken the region as the country heads towards the 2027 General Election.

Speaking during a live birthday phone call with Kameme FM presenter Muthoni wa Kirumba on Monday, Uhuru said he had forgiven residents who did not follow his political direction during the 2022 election. He urged them to learn from the past rather than allow disagreements to define their future.

“I have forgiven everyone, and we must move forward. Making the first mistake isn't bad; the mistake is repeating it. Kenya is bigger than everyone, including me,” he said. 

The message, delivered as the former president turned 65, was more than a birthday exchange. It was a call for reconciliation in a region whose political loyalties have shifted since the last election and where competing leaders are seeking to shape the next contest.

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Uhuru also urged residents to stop insulting one another over political differences, arguing that respect and unity were more important than hostility between rival camps.

He called on Kenyans across the country to work together and protect national cohesion, saying he continued to pray for the country.

A message shaped by the 2022 election

Uhuru’s remarks revisit the political fallout from the 2022 General Election, when he backed Raila Odinga’s presidential bid under the Azimio coalition despite the strong support William Ruto enjoyed in parts of Mt Kenya.

Ruto won the presidency, while many voters in the region backed his campaign. The result marked a major political setback for Uhuru, who had served two terms as president and sought to influence the succession.

His latest appeal suggests he wants residents to move beyond recriminations over those choices. However, his call for unity does not establish that Mt Kenya voters have returned to his political camp or that they will follow a single direction in 2027.

The region remains politically contested, with leaders offering different approaches to the next election and to relations with the national government.

Uhuru did not announce a new political alliance or endorse a presidential candidate during the birthday conversation. His message focused on forgiveness, mutual respect and the need to avoid repeating past political mistakes.

Gachagua’s meetings add to opposition manoeuvring

The appeal for unity comes as opposition figures hold consultations ahead of the 2027 election.

On Monday, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua hosted Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka at his Wamunyoro residence in Nyeri County. The meeting followed Gachagua’s October 20 engagement with Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna and leaders associated with the Linda Mwananchi movement. 

Gachagua welcomed Kalonzo publicly, describing him as his cousin and stressing the need for cooperation.

“Welcome to Wamunyoro, my cousin Kalonzo Musyoka. Unity of purpose is vital!” he said. The meetings have fuelled discussion about whether opposition leaders can agree on a common candidate and a coordinated strategy to challenge President William Ruto.

Gachagua’s Democracy for the Citizens Party has publicly backed Sifuna as its preferred presidential candidate and indicated that it wants Kalonzo’s support. Wiper, however, has pushed back against claims that Kalonzo’s visit was simply intended to persuade him to endorse Sifuna. 

No formal coalition agreement or joint presidential ticket was announced following the Wamunyoro meeting. The talks therefore represent ongoing political engagement, not a settled opposition arrangement.

Can calls for unity translate into political action?

Uhuru’s appeal and the opposition consultations point to a common challenge: bringing together people and leaders who may share some interests but differ over political direction and leadership.

For Mt Kenya, that means navigating competing calls from leaders who want to influence the region’s relationship with the government and its role in the next election. For the wider opposition, it means finding common ground without allowing disagreements over candidates and strategy to derail cooperation.

Uhuru’s message was not a detailed plan for how that unity should be achieved. Instead, he urged residents to stop treating political differences as a reason for personal hostility and to recognise that the country is bigger than any individual leader.

As the 2027 election approaches, the test will be whether such appeals lead to more constructive political engagement—or remain messages of goodwill while rival camps continue to compete for influence.

For now, Uhuru’s birthday message is a reminder that political disagreements need not become permanent divisions, even as the contest to shape Kenya’s next election gathers pace.