Uhuru sarcastically embraces ‘sponyo’ tag amid Ruto attacks

• He broke his silence after a week of sustained attacks from his former deputy, President Ruto, who has labelled him a rebel leader and accused him of sponsoring those undermining his government.

Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta speaks during the burial of Christine Waruguru Kariuki in Gikuu, Kiharu Constituency on September 18, 2026. PHOTO | OTFP

Retired President Uhuru Kenyatta has laughed off the ‘sponyo’ tag that President William Ruto has repeatedly used against him in recent weeks.

Speaking in Murang’a County, Kenyatta appeared to jokingly embrace the label, even as he kept his remarks away from politics.

He broke his silence after a week of sustained attacks from his former deputy, President Ruto, who has labelled him a rebel leader and accused him of sponsoring those undermining his government.

Kenyatta, who was attending the burial of Christine Waruguru Kariuki in Gikuu, Kiharu Constituency, appeared to sarcastically embrace the ‘sponyo’ label, laughing off the title as he addressed mourners.

“Asanteni sana, ni hayo machache kutoka kwa sponyo, na tutaendelea kuwa pamoja,” he said.

Kenyatta, who gave politics a wide berth, however, received support from some of his allies, who took aim at President Ruto with political jibes.

“I normally speak off the cuff, but these days life is becoming quite dangerous for me. So, I have decided that before the media goes to misinterpret my words, wacha nisome ile niko nayo,” he said.

But some of the opposition leaders who accompanied the former President came to his defence, pushing back against what they described as a sustained political attack.

“When you see leaders, including national leaders, hurl insults, lie, saying things that don’t make sense, that is a story also about how they grew up,” said Jubilee Deputy Party leader Dr. Fred Matiang’i.

People’s Party of Kenya (PPK) leader Ndindi Nyoro added: “My eyes are beyond 2027 kwa sababu hiyo ni kama imeisha. Macho yangu iko pale mbele, vile tutaboresha uchumi wa Kenya, vile tutapeana elimu bila malipo starting January 2028.”

This comes as Wiper Patriotic Front party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who attended the revival prayer festival at Mashuuru Grounds in Kajiado County, also came to Kenyatta’s defence.

Speaking during a burial ceremony in Nyakach, Kisumu County, Embakasi East MP Babu Owino also dismissed claims that the former President was bankrolling the Linda Mwananchi team, while downplaying reports of cracks emerging within the camp.