From plotting Ruto downfall to broad-based: How President won over the Uhuru State

President William Ruto has quietly but decisively repositioned himself within Kenya’s power structure, successfully capturing institutions and influences once firmly aligned with his predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta. Through a mix of party purges, strategic realignments and regional coalition‑building, Ruto has managed to turn the Uhuru State —the network of patronage, regional alliances and institutional control built during Kenyatta’s tenure—into a platform for his own ascendancy ahead of the 2027 election cycle.
The shift started when Ruto, then Deputy President, helped win two elections under Kenyatta’s banner but was later sidelined during the 2018 Handshake pact between Kenyatta and Raila Odinga. Ruto used that moment to reel in disenchanted Mt Kenya elites and reposition himself as a people’s movement leader—one who could draw mass support beyond the established Kikuyu‑Kalenjin alliance. According to data, his 2022 presidential win was anchored in regional gains across Mt Kenya and the North Rift, areas that formerly powered Kenyatta’s platform.
Simultaneously, Ruto has steadily dismantled the Jubilee Party’s influence—once Kenyatta’s vehicle—and transferred resources and loyalties into the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and his Hustler Nation narrative.
Reactions among political observers are mixed. Supporters argue Ruto’s success in capturing the deep state of the previous era shows his political maturity and readiness to govern beyond tribal bases. Detractors, however, warn that the takeover of legacy institutions and networks signals a shift toward personalised rule and may deepen institutional capture rather than reform. Regions such as Mt Kenya, once loyal to Kenyatta’s network, now find themselves negotiating new alignment under Ruto’s realignment—bringing both opportunities and unease for local elites.
Looking ahead, Ruto’s reshaping of the Uhuru‑era state has major implications for the 2027 elections. If these structural changes translate into enduring regional coalitions, loyalty networks and institutional advantage, he may enter the race with a strong foundation. However, any backlash—either from alienated elites, youth disillusionment or governance failures—could erode his lead. The battle may no longer be simply about personalities, but about which network controls the machinery of power in Kenya.