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Kenyans witnessed a surprising political turn of events in 2024, which could have an impact on the 2027 General Election.
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The notion that President William Ruto and his Deputy Rigathi Gachagua would be at odds and eventually lead to his impeachment was unimaginable.
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Throughout the year, the current leader took independent and confident actions, such as extending an olive branch to his predecessor, President Uhuru Kenyatta.
As the year 2024 comes to a close, no one will likely forget the significant political events that took place in Kenya, some of which might perpetually change the course of the nation’s future.
Historically pivotal developments in the global political arena this year included several paradigm-shifting events and surprises.
Reviews several significant political events in Kenya in 2024, including some that came as a surprise to the country’s citizens.
The notable handshake between Kenya’s politician William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga.
The political alliance between President William Ruto and opposition leader Raila Odinga has caught many Kenyans off guard.
The two former adversaries-turned-associates broke out their ‘handshake’ card in Uganda at a gathering attended by President Yoweri Museveni.
Following their meeting in Uganda, it was apparent that the political animosity between Ruto and Raila had subsided.
A few days later, the Head of State visited the ODM party’s stronghold in Homa Bay, where he attended the second Homa Bay County International Investment Conference, a move seen as solidifying and reinforcing his ties with the opposition leader.
Ruto described his new alliance with the former prime minister as a mutually beneficial partnership between the government and the opposition.
We have room for everyone in Kenya, we don’t succeed by putting others at a disadvantage. Our desire is to have a mutually beneficial situation in Kenya, where those in opposition don’t feel they’ve been defeated and made to feel inferior.
The political agreement between the two parties saw Rasanga, despite being from the Kenya Kwanza government, nominated by Odinga for the position of African Union Commission chairman.
2. Parliament invasion
The protests against the Finance Bill 2024 will be remembered as the most turbulent demonstrations the country has ever seen in its history.
The most intense moment of the anti-government protests occurred on June 26, with at least 13 fatalities reported after protesters stormed the parliament building.
A furious mob attempted to breach security checkpoints to invade the parliament compound in the nation’s capital, Nairobi, where they began inciting fires in several areas amid a surge in protests against proposed tax reforms.
Lawmakers who remained in the building were momentarily evacuated to the lower floors, fleeing from the area due to the presence of intense demonstrators throughout the premises.
Reports indicate that fifteen and fifty people have been injured, after police engaged in a confrontation with hundreds of protesters.
President Ruto’s administration was compelled to deploy the military following a sudden incursion of the parliament to quell the resulting protests.
3. Cabinet dissolution
On July 11, 2024, President Ruto yielded to the nationwide populace’s mounting pressure and sacked his entire Cabinet, with the exception of Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.
Youth-led protests over planned tax increases turned deadly, resulting in at least 39 fatalities when demonstrators clashed with police last month.
Mass protests had put Ruto’s presidency under intense scrutiny, severely testing his two-year term in office.
Upon taking office, Ruto stated that he will initiate broad consultations, encompassing various sectors and political groups, as well as the general public and private citizens, to establish a broad-based administration.
The president also ousted the attorney general but stated that his deputy’s office remains unaffected.
4. Broad-based Cabinet
Following the dissolution of his previous administration, the president subsequently announced a revamped cabinet by appointing some prominent opposition figures to key positions within it.
On 24 July, the president appointed four key officials from the ODM party to his cabinet.
The ODM Chairman, John Mbadi, is set to take the Treasury helm, while Opiyo Wandayi will oversee Energy, Hassan Joho Mining, and Wycliffe Oparanya Cooperatives and Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs).
Later, the head of state appointed close associates of former President Uhuru Kenyatta to his new, diversified Cabinet.
5. Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment
The impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua as the deputy president is a significant historical political milestone since the introduction of the 2010 Constitution.
On Thursday, October 17, a heated late-night vote took place in the Senate where members voted in favour of supporting the impeachment charges brought forth by the National Assembly.
Kenyan senators voted for guilty verdicts on five out of the 11 counts presented in the impeachment motion lodged by the country’s legislative body.
Speaker Amason Kingi declared that Gachagua’s tenure came to an end after two-thirds of the senators, as mandated by Article 145 (7) and Standing Order 78 (8) of the Senate, upheld the allegations against him.
Based on Article 145(7) and 151(b)(ii) of the Constitution and Standing Order No. 78 (8) of the Senate, the motion to impeach Hon. Rigathi Gachagua, Kenya’s Deputy President, has been adopted. As a result, Hon. Rigathi Gachagua is relieved of his duties as Deputy President.
6. William Ruto-Uhuru handshake
In 2024, President William Ruto unexpectedly made contact with his predecessor, Uhuru Kenyatta, in an extraordinary political development.
On Monday, December 9, Deputy President William Ruto visited Uhuru Kenyatta’s home in Ichaweri residence, Gatundu South, Kiambu County.
Following their behind-closed-doors discussion, the two leaders, who have a keen interest in the 2022 General Election, issued distinct statements and published separate photographs.
The statement revealed that the two leaders deliberated upon approximately ten matters of national concern.
One of the key issues up for discussion is the current electoral crisis in the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC).
The statement also noted that President Ruto had expressed gratitude to Uhuru for ensuring a smooth transition of power following the highly contested 2022 presidential election.
