Former Nyandarua Governor Francis Kimemia’s defection from the Jubilee Party to the Democratic Citizens Party (DCP) has opened a new political battleground involving Governor Badilisha Kiarie and his political archrivals.
Dr Kiarie defected to the party led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua three months ago from President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA), under whose ticket he was elected in the 2022 General Election, defeating Mr Kimemia.
Former Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki, who is eyeing the gubernatorial seat, also crossed from Jubilee to DCP earlier, adding to the unfolding political realignments in the region. Lawyers John Theuri and Nderi Ndiani are also in the race for the county's top seat, with political parties expected to pick their flag bearers by May next year.
Former Water Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
This leaves Nyandarua Woman Representative Faith Gitau eyeing the UDA ticket ahead of the August 10, 2027 General Election, in what is shaping up to be a battle of political titans in the region.
“I have listened to the people on the ground and it is clear that DCP is their party of choice. I have joined them and the party as I seek to recapture my former position as Nyandarua Governor and complete the projects I initiated while rolling out new ones,” Mr Kimemia said.
Speaking when he led a delegation to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s Wamunyoro home, Mr Kimemia said the people were determined to install a new administration at both the county and national levels.
In 2017, Governor Badilisha contested as an independent candidate but lost to Mr Kimemia.
However, in the 2022 General Election, Dr Badilisha teamed up with Senator John Methu and Woman Representative Faith Gitau against Mr Kimemia, eventually unseating him after one term as governor. Dr Badilisha garnered 158,263 votes against Mr Kimemia’s 52,197.
During the Ol Kalou Constituency by-election following the death of former MP David Kiaraho, Mr Kimemia, who was the Jubilee Party's county patron, distanced himself from the party's candidate, Wilson Kigwa.
Mr Kimemia, a former Head of Public Service and Principal Secretary for Interior, did not accompany the candidate when he presented his nomination papers to the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC), nor did he join the campaigns.
Former Nyandarua Governor Francis Kimemia.
Photo credit: File| Nation Media Group
This was a clear indication that the technocrat-turned-politician would not remain in the party for long, with the recent exit of his former boss, former President Uhuru Kenyatta, as Jubilee Party leader providing the perfect opportunity for him to quit.
“The Ol Kalou by-election results would not have been the same had Mr Kimemia campaigned for the Jubilee Party candidate. We felt betrayed by the person we relied on to provide leadership,” politician Vincent Muchiri said.
Mr Muchiri said Mr Kimemia's entry into DCP would pit him against former allies-turned-rivals in Jubilee, DCP and UDA.
Kipipiri MP Wanjiku Muhia, a former Nyandarua Woman Representative, is now the one welcoming her former bitter rivals into DCP.
In the 2022 elections, a fallout between Kariuki and Kimemia partly contributed to the latter's defeat.
Ms Kariuki and Mr Kimemia held parallel campaigns for former Prime Minister Raila Odinga after Ms Kariuki was denied the Jubilee Party ticket in favour of Mr Kimemia.
But that was not the first time the supremacy battle between the two politicians had proved disastrous for the party they both supported.
In 2021, the two refused to work together during the Rurii Ward MCA by-election following the death of MCA Mburu wa Maria.
Mr Kimemia and Ms Kariuki held parallel, uncoordinated campaigns for Jubilee candidate Peter Thinji Kiriga, who lost to UDA candidate Muraya Githaiga. Ms Gitau coordinated Mr Githaiga's campaigns, marking UDA's entry into the Central Kenya region.
Political analysts say Governor Badilisha's bid to become the first two-term governor will largely depend on how he navigates the DCP nominations.
“A year to the 2017 election, it was obvious that the first Nyandarua Governor, Daniel Waithaka, had lost popularity; the same case applied to Governor Kimemia, whose popularity had drastically reduced ahead of the 2022 poll. But Governor Badilisha seems to have maintained the pace; all he needs is to retain his block against raids from his opponents ahead of party nomination,” former Nyahururu Mayor Peter Waweru Thiari said.
Mr Thiari said Nyandarua had enjoyed some semblance of peace over the past four years compared with the first two regimes, adding that the end of supremacy battles during Dr Badilisha's administration had translated into development and more accessible leadership.
Similar sentiments were expressed by businessman, political analyst and influencer Maina Ngugi, who believes Mr Kimemia's decision to join DCP might not add value to his comeback bid, given that he will be surrounded by former political enemies.
“Mr Kimemia’s entry to DCP will definitely split the voting block of the other candidates – Governor Badilisha and Ms Kariuki. However, Dr Badilisha has the advantage of a sound development program he has rolled out,” Mr Ngugi said.
However, the candidates' choice of running mates is likely to influence both the party nominations and the 2027 General Election.
Another disadvantage facing Mr Kimemia in his comeback bid is that he has lost several political heavyweights, including former members of his county executive, who are now working with his opponents.
They include former executive members Stephen Njoroge, Daniel Wangenye and Dominic Murani, among others.
He also dismissed claims of bad blood between him and DCP leader Mr Gachagua, saying they had worked together as district officers during the Moi regime.
