Jubilee Party Deputy Leader Jeremiah Kioni has urged politicians to stop dragging former President Uhuru Kenyatta into the 2027 succession debate, saying the retired Head of State will not be on the ballot and should not be used to shape the country's next political contest.
Speaking on Radio Generation on Monday, Kioni said political leaders should instead focus on presenting solutions to Kenyans and identifying the qualities they want in the country's next president rather than repeatedly invoking Uhuru's name whenever political negotiations stall.
"Uhuru Kenyatta is not going to be on the ballot. Let us stop dragging his name every day," Kioni said. "Let us not confuse the process by dropping in names whenever it is that we think we are not making any progress. That is being done by the opposition. It is also being done by those in government."
Kioni argued that the debate should shift from personalities to issues that matter to ordinary Kenyans.
"Can we start asking ourselves what are these issues we want done by the person who assumes office after William?" he posed. "Those issues should then define the candidate we should have there, and there should not be any compromise."
The Jubilee deputy leader also dismissed suggestions that the opposition had already settled on a presidential candidate through behind-the-scenes negotiations, insisting any eventual flagbearer must emerge through a process driven by wananchi.
"There is no agreement that has been hammered or reached by the United Opposition boardroom," he said. "An agreement that does not have Kenyans at the centre of that debate is going to be disobeyed by Kenyans."
His remarks come amid renewed speculation over former President Kenyatta's influence in Mount Kenya politics following Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) leader Rigathi Gachagua's 45-day political consultation at his Wamunyoro residence.
After concluding the consultations, Gachagua disclosed that he would present the views collected during the exercise to Uhuru Kenyatta before announcing the next political direction, saying the former president remained an important political figure whose counsel would be sought.
He maintained that his political path and Uhuru's were closely aligned and dismissed claims of divisions between them.
Kioni, however, maintained that the former president should not become the focal point of the 2027 succession debate, arguing that Kenyans should evaluate those seeking office based on their agenda for the country rather than perceived endorsements.
He also cautioned Mount Kenya politicians against relying on political symbolism instead of articulating policies, saying voters deserved honest conversations about the country's future rather than being "taken for the wrong ride."