- Kenyatta mentors young Africans to become global thinkers and values-based leaders. In January 2026, at the Future Africa Leaders Awards in Lagos, he challenged youth to overcome self-doubt
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Kenya’s former President Uhuru Kenyatta moves across Kenya and the continent with the power of a man who has mastered politics and perception. Though he retired from a constitutional title, his influence remains remarkable in politics, diplomacy, mentorship, and the moral compass of a nation.
Kenyatta’s strength does not lie in the ballot but in the bonds he has built over decades. Through conferences, strategic alliances, and precise planning, he revived the Jubilee Party after a period of silence.
He regained full control of the party after the Milimani High Court upheld the April 28 National Executive Committee (NEC) and May 22, 2023 National Delegates Convention (NDC) resolutions, overturning earlier rulings and dealing a blow to the rival faction.
In that revival, Fred Matiang’i emerged as Jubilee’s presidential candidate a move that signaled Kenyatta’s continued role in shaping opposition politics.
“Among the many lessons I learnt from Uhuru Kenyatta is the decency of difference,” Matiang’i said during his endorsement of Jubilee’s presidential candidate.
The Weight of a Name
Beyond networks, Kenyatta carries symbolic capital few can match. His family legacy, presidential tenure, and economic stature give his voice weight. People listen not because law demands it, but because experience and respect compel them.
He shows up when tragedy strikes. His support for the Odinga family after the death of Raila Odinga, shared on his official X account, reminded Kenyans that empathy and presence are measures of leadership not just policy.
Diplomacy in Motion
Kenyatta has emerged as a continental broker. During the Washington Peace Accord, DRC President Félix Tshisekedi formally recognized him as a primary architect of the initial peace processes.
“We have the President of Angola and former President of Kenya, my brother Uhuru Kenyatta. These two great Africans started the Rwanda and Nairobi Processes,” Tshisekedi said.
In January 2026, Kenyatta joined high-level peace talks in Lomé and Entebbe alongside the African Union (AU), the Southern African Development Community (SADC), and East African leaders to stabilize the DRC. His interventions carry the weight of a former head of state with deep networks and a reputation for fairness. He influences without command, persuades without order, and arbitrates without position.
Shaping the Next Generation
Kenyatta mentors young Africans to become global thinkers and values-based leaders. In January 2026, at the Future Africa Leaders Awards in Lagos, he challenged youth to overcome self-doubt:
“Regardless of where you start, regardless of where you were born, regardless of if you had a parent or not—God gave you as an individual and put you on this earth to achieve something,” he said.
He echoed this message at Kabarak University’s 21st graduation ceremony:
“May your journey ahead be marked by courage, innovation and excellence. Go forth and make a difference. The world is ready and waiting for you.”
His power here is interpersonal; he leads by example, discussion, and direction, sowing seeds for the next generation of continental leaders.
Even in symbolic acts, Kenyatta demonstrates the strength of post-office leadership. In Kakamega County, while paying tribute to the late Lugari Member of Parliament (MP) Cyrus Jirongo on December 30, 2025, he urged unity, dialogue, and peace ahead of the 2027 elections.
“Jirongo respected multiparty democracy and believed in working with people from different political backgrounds. If we truly want to honor him, we must also respect that democratic space,” he said.
These gestures; quiet, principled, deliberate underscore a slow but undeniable truth: influence does not cling to titles; it fastens itself to trust and credibility.
Leadership That Evolves
Uhuru Kenyatta’s post-presidency is a study in evolving authority. He no longer exercises formal power, yet he influences politics, mediates conflicts, mentors youth, and serves as a moral guide.
Leadership does not end when the term ends—it transforms. In Kenyatta, out-of-office authority is evident, purposeful, and effective. Where law cannot compel, networks, wisdom, and presence persuade. Where formal power ends, influence endures.
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