The president of the Republic of Kenya is the head of state and head of government of the Republic of Kenya. The president is also the head of the executive branch of the Government of Kenya and is the commander-in-chief of the Kenya Defence Forces. The country's current president is William Ruto since 13 September 2022.

History

On 12 December 1964, the Republic of Kenya was proclaimed, and Jomo Kenyatta became Kenya's first president. Kenya has had a total of five presidents since establishment, in successive order: Jomo Kenyatta, Daniel arap Moi, Mwai Kibaki, Uhuru Kenyatta, and the incumbent, William Ruto, who was inaugurated on 13 September 2022. Moi remains the country's longest serving president, having served for a total of 24 years.

Qualifications and election to office

According to the current Constitution, if a person wishes to be elected as president, the following qualifications must be met: A candidate will be disqualified to run for presidency if they have allegiance to a foreign state or is working for the government in any capacity as a public officer. Being a public officer is not applicable to the incumbent president if running for a second term. The president is elected by popular vote in the general election held in the month of August every five years. For a presidential candidate to be declared the winner, they must have: The official residence of the president of Kenya is State House, Nairobi. The wife of the president is referred to as the first lady of Kenya.

Term of office

A president is eligible for two consecutive terms of five years each, starting from the date the president is sworn in.

Roles and responsibilities

The following is a summary of the roles of the president of Kenya as provided in the Constitution of Kenya: The responsibilities of the president are summarised as follows: Additionally, a person serving as president has legal immunity, with the exception of crimes under treaties to which Kenya is party with provisions that prohibit such immunity.

List of presidents

Presidential standards

As with most other countries, the president of Kenya has a presidential standard to signify their status as the country's head of state and government. Its design is generally based on the country's national flag, although the president has some leeway to customise its appearance. The flag is generally displayed in notable locations associated with the president, usually alongside the national flag, such as the president's offices and the president's official state car, and during notable state occasions. The presidential standards of Kenya's presidents since the country's independence have been as follows: