Uhuru Kenyatta | |
---|---|
4th President of Kenya | |
Assumed office 9 April 2013 |
|
Deputy | William Ruto |
Preceded by | Mwai Kibaki |
Deputy Prime Minister of Kenya | |
In office 17 April 2008 – 9 April 2013 Serving with Musalia Mudavadi |
|
President | Mwai Kibaki |
Prime Minister | Raila Odinga |
Minister of Finance | |
In office 23 January 2009 – 26 January 2012 |
|
Preceded by | John Michuki |
Succeeded by | Robinson Njeru Githae |
Leader of Opposition | |
In office January 2003 – December 2007 |
|
Preceded by | Mwai Kibaki |
Member of Parliament for Gatundu South |
|
In office January 2003 – January 2013 |
|
Preceded by | Moses Mwihia |
Succeeded by | Jossy Ngugi |
Personal details | |
Born |
Nairobi, Kenya |
26 October 1961
Nationality | Kenyan |
Political party |
TNA (2012–present) KANU (before 2012) |
Spouse(s) | Margaret Gakuo (m. 1991) |
Relations | Jomo Kenyatta (father) |
Children |
3
|
Alma mater | Amherst College |
Religion | Christian |
Signature | |
Website | www |
Uhuru Muigai Kenyatta (/uhʊrʊ-keɪnjɑːtɑː/; born 26 October 1961) is the 4th and current President of Kenya, in office since 2013. He is the son of Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's first president, and his fourth wife Ngina Kenyatta.
Uhuru Kenyatta was elected president of Kenya under The National Alliance (TNA), which was part of the Jubilee Alliance with his running mate William Ruto's United Republican Party (URP). Uhuru and Ruto won 50.07% of votes cast, with closest rivals, Raila Odinga and running mate Kalonzo Musyoka of the Coalition for Reforms and Democracy garnering 42%. Raila Amolo Odinga disputed the election results at the Supreme Court which however held (7–0) that the election of Uhuru was valid and such irregularities as existed did not make a difference to the final outcome . Uhuru Kenyatta was therefore sworn in as President on 9 April 2013.
Uhuru is the son of Jomo Kenyatta, Kenya's founding father and first president (in office 1964–1978). His family hails from the Kikuyu, a Bantu ethnic group. His given name "Uhuru" is from the Swahili term for "freedom", and was given to him in anticipation of Kenya's upcoming independence. Uhuru attended St Mary's School in Nairobi. Between 1979 and 1980, he also briefly worked as a teller at the Kenya Commercial Bank.