The victory by the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in Mbeere North and Isiolo South constituencies has boosted Mt Kenya region's stake in President William Ruto’s re-election matrix, as the Head of State prepares to negotiate a coalition agreement with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
The Orange party has laid claim to the Deputy President position, which has rattled Mt Kenya region leaders, who have maintained that Prof Kithure Kindiki will not be sacrificed in an effort to accommodate ODM.
After joining the broad-based government through an MoU negotiated by late Raila Odinga on March 7, 2025, the party, through its new leader, Dr Oburu Oginga, has insisted that it will not go for less than the DP position in 2027, jolting leaders in the mountain.
But buoyed by the by-elections victory in which Prof Kindiki played a key role as he led the campaigns, the Mt Kenya leaders now say ODM should forget the running mate position in 2027.
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki flanked by Mbeere North UDA candidate Leonard Wamuthende during a campaign rally in Mbeere North Constituency.
Photo credit: DPCS
UDA won in the November 27, 2025, hotly contested Mbeere North parliamentary seat, in which Leonard Wamuthende floored Devolution Empowerment Party’s Newton Kariuki and Chama cha Kazi’s Duncan Mbui.
During the February 26, 2026, by-elections, UDA scooped the three seats on offer in the region, when Mohamed Tubi, Duncan Muratia and Peterson Njeru won the Isiolo South parliamentary seat and Evurore and Muminji wards, respectively.
Leaders described the victory as a boost for Prof Kindiki as high-stakes negotiations to clinch the 2027 running mate position enter the homestretch.
On Friday (February 27), MPs from the region met in Kiambu County, and in their statement, said they were solidly behind President Ruto and Prof Kindiki.
“UDA’s triumph is a show of confidence that the people of Kenya have in the Kenya Kwanza Administration in steering our nation to a first world economy within a generation,” they said in a statement.
“The clean sweep in the by-elections is confirmation that UDA is a national party, with deep grassroots presence and a solid structure that anchors the implementation of equitable development across the country,” they added.
The victory also seemed to unite the Mt Kenya East and West politicians, some of whom had called for a split after the West appeared to slip through the fingers following forays by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
After his impeachment in October 2024, Mr Gachagua has gone on an offensive to destroy President Ruto’s presence in a region that propelled him to the State House with 87 per cent of his votes in 2022.
United Opposition leaders led by DCP Party Leader Rigathi Gachagua, DAPK Eugene Wamalwa, and Mithika Linturi during a rally in Heshima, Bahati sub-county in Nakuru City on February 28, 2026.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation
Mr Gachagua has led the opposition in a one-term call for President Ruto’s administration, accusing him of failed promises, corruption and human rights violations.
The former DP’s threat to take control of the region has rallied support behind Prof Kindiki. For a couple of months now, a section of leaders in the region has advocated for the split of East and West, the most notable being Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku and Embu governor Cecil Mbarire.
The East comprise Embu, Tharaka Nithi and Meru, with Isiolo considered to join the bloc, while Murang’a, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Nyandarua and parts of Laikipia make up the West.
However, after the threat on Prof Kindiki’s position, there have been efforts to unite the two blocs.
After the Kiambu meeting, leaders were resolute that even as President Ruto enters into negotiations with ODM, the DP position is not subject to any negotiations.
“The seat of the Deputy President is for Mt Kenya region and we shall defend it. ODM should look for other seats and leave Kindiki alone. We shall stand with the DP and make him even stronger,” Mr Ruku said.
However, the CS said they respected the broad-based government “for the sake of unity of our country” and told ODM to be patient until 2032, when they will negotiate with Prof Kindiki on who will deputise him.
Prof Kindiki is emerging as the tactical mover in Dr Ruto’s administration, with leaders agreeing that it is tricky to drop him as the second in command in next year's Presidential ticket.
UDA leaders have described Prof Kindiki as an important cog in Dr Ruto’s delivery of promises to Kenyans as the Presidency seeks to prove it is the better bet for Kenyans.
“Looking at the President, you can tell he is now settled because he has a Deputy who knows what the Government is doing, the progress made in the implementation of every programme and project, and how it will benefit the 50 plus million citizens,” Ms Muthoni Marubu, the Lamu county Woman Representative, said recently.
“The Government is doing a lot but for two years, the President lacked a concise, diligent and available Deputy who could help him push the development agenda. The mastery of facts and figures exhibited by Kindiki is impressive and affirms the choice made by the President in settling on him as his deputy and as members of parliament we support them in equitably developing every part of our country,” she added.
Kakamega Deputy Governor Ayub Savula.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
Kakamega deputy governor, Mr Ayub Savula, said Prof Kindiki “is a smart politician and had picked up the role of deputy with the energy it deserves. He is eloquent and straight to the point giving new political impetus to President Ruto development plans.”
The DP has himself stepped up efforts to win back the mountain, saying he would camp in Nyeri, Murang’a and Embu counties where President Ruto is facing stiff opposition, until the residents were convinced that “the opposition has nothing to offer.”
On February 20, 2026, when he helped raise funds for a women's Sacco in Nyeri, Prof Kindiki asked residents not to abandon Dr Ruto ahead of the 2027 General Election, saying Mt Kenya East block had stood with late president Mwai Kibaki for ten years.
He told the people of Nyeri that it was their turn to repay the political debt, and asked them to stick with Dr Ruto in 2027.
Nyeri County has proved to be the bedrock of Ruto's opposition, being former President Rigathi Gachagua's backyard, with Prof Kindiki vowing to camp in the region until the residents change their minds.
"Even when Kiambu and other regions voted for Kenneth Matiba, we people from Meru stood with your son Kibaki. We voted for him in 1992, 1997 and in 2002 when you joined us and we propelled him to state house. It is your turn to repay this debt," he said.
He said President Ruto’s administration was committed to delivering development projects for the people of Mt Kenya region, and asked them to back Dr Ruto's administration for the second term, noting that the country’s economy has already stabilised.
“This is the time to be in government as a region. The government has stabilized the economy and we are committed to completing the construction of 6,000 kilometres of road country wide. Already, Sh177 billion has been paid to contractors to ensure work is completed and ensure projects don’t stall,” he said.
Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri.
Photo credit: Joseph Kanyi | Nation Media Group
Laikipia East MP Mwangi Kiunjuri likened President Ruto's administration to that of Mr Kibaki, saying in the third year of the latter's Presidency, people started making noise that the economy was doing badly,” Mr Kiunjuri said.
"However, during the fourth year, the economy thrived. Just like President Ruto. Today, projects are ongoing all over the country and Kenya is a construction site. Those with eyes can see that President Ruto is delivering and we have no reason to abandon him in 2027," the MP added.
