Inside the Closed-Door Clash Between President Ruto and His Predecessor
The high-altitude corridors of the African Union (AU) Headquarters became a psychological battlefield this week as President William Ruto and his predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta, reportedly clashed during a high-stakes closed-door session. While official photos depicted a “united front” under the Addis Ababa Accord, insiders reveal a far more volatile reality behind the scenes, exposing a deep-seated struggle for control over Kenya’s regional diplomatic influence.
The tension reached a boiling point during the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) session. Uhuru Kenyatta, attending in his capacity as the facilitator for the Nairobi Peace Process, was reportedly blindsided when his scheduled briefing on the conflict in eastern DR Congo was removed from the agenda. Sources suggest that the current administration actively lobbied to sideline the former president, pushing for a “unified framework” that merges Uhuru’s Nairobi Process with the Angola-led Luanda Process—a move Uhuru’s camp views as an intentional attempt to erase his mediation legacy.
The clash isn’t merely personal; it represents a fundamental disagreement on foreign policy strategy. President Ruto has been vocal about ending “forum shopping” in regional conflicts, advocating for a single, streamlined mediation path. However, Uhuru Kenyatta has stood firm on maintaining the Nairobi Process, which he argues has more grassroots credibility and local trust. The explosive nature of their private disagreement reportedly led to the collapse of the PSC session into disarray, with no official report being tabled, signaling a significant rift in Kenya’s regional leadership posture.
Back home, political analysts are viewing this Addis Ababa feud as a proxy for the upcoming 2027 General Elections. With Uhuru Kenyatta reportedly working behind the scenes to consolidate a “Mega Alliance” featuring figures like Kalonzo Musyoka and the recently impeached Rigathi Gachagua, Ruto’s move to curb Uhuru’s international stature is seen as a pre-emptive strike. By positioning himself as the sole voice of Kenyan diplomacy, Ruto aims to weaken Uhuru’s domestic influence before the campaign season kicks into high gear.
As the dust settles on the 39th Ordinary Session, the “Ethiopia Cold War” between the two leaders has left the African Union in a precarious position. While regional mediators have reportedly been tasked with reconciling the two, the deep ideological and personal fractures suggest that the road to 2027 will be paved with more than just diplomatic disagreements.
