Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta has said his plan was to retire from active politics but he changed his mind in light of the recent happening in the political arena.
Speaking at the Jubilee party's National Delegates Conference (NDC) at the Ngong Racecourse on Monday, May 22, 2023, Uhuru said he thought he would retire but opted to stay put after some people thought they could intimidate him.
The retired president made reference to the invasion of his family's property and the attempted hostile takeover of the Jubilee party by a splinter group.
"Nataka niseme kwa fikira zangu fikira zangu zilikua zimeniambia yakwamba siasa mimi nlikua nataka mimi nilegee na niende nishugulikie mambo ingine. Na nilikua nafikiria yakwamba siku ya kuitana mkutano wa National Delegate Conference (NDC) ingekua ile siku yakwamba mimi ningekua nawaambia 'wenzangu sasa mimi nimetimiza ile nimeweza na sasa ni wakati wa kuchagua viongozi wengine," Uhuru said.
"Lakini wengine wameamua yakwamba kazi itakua ya vitisho na kulazimisha. Siku ya leo nimewaambia tufuteni mwingine sio Uhuru wa Kenyatta," he added.
Uhuru stressed that he will hold onto Jubilee leadership until the party's members decide otherwise.
"Ntashikilia mbaka watasema sasa patiana mwingine," he said.
The retired president noted that he handed over power peacefully in broad daylight even when he was being insulted.
Uhuru noted that he watched as people insulted him, stole sheep and set land on fire thinking that they could scare him.
"Tukapatiana uongozi kwa amani hadharani mchana. Ata wakati wananitukana nkakaa tu kimywa nkasema sawa ni haki yao watende yale wanataka. Nikakaa nimekimywa na yale yametokeza matusi, kuiba mbuzi, kuchoma mashamba yote wakifikiria wanatisha. Aya nawaambia waendelee," he said.
The former head of state further cautioned that his silence should not be mistaken for fear.
"Heshma si utumwa it's a two way street. Na kuona wengine wamenyamaza sio kusema wameogopa, no get that out of your mind. Chukueni ile munataka mufanye vitisho that will never work. Haiwezi," Uhuru said.
