A historical perspective reveals a pattern of constitutional challenges in Kenya, with events leading up to Uhuru Kenyatta's presidency echoing the tribulations faced by his father, Jomo Kenyatta, during the 1963 independence negotiations. Both faced significant hurdles in establishing a unified governance structure.

• In October 1963, the Kenya African Democratic Union (KADU) threatened to form a separate republic, leading to a standoff with Jomo Kenyatta's Kenya African National Union (KANU) over the new constitution.
• Uhuru Kenyatta's presidency, starting in 2013, also navigated similar demands for autonomy from governors in the newly devolved system, mirroring the 1963 debates on federalism.
• Over 250,000 people attended Jomo Kenyatta's inauguration in December 1963, cheering despite the ongoing constitutional tensions.