The registration of aspirants for the 2027 contest by the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has exposed its dwindling fortunes in the populous Mt Kenya.
Data by the party shows that political bigwigs in the region seem to be shunning the outfit that swept President William Ruto and a majority of elected leaders to power in 2022.
In some of the counties, the governor's seat attracted not even a single aspirant to face off with the incumbents elected on UDA. UDA, however, remains strong in the Rift Valley based on the number of registered aspirants, even as it seeks to make inroads in Western, Coast and Nyanza regions.
More politicians from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) traditional bastions have registered to run on UDA compared to those who sought the ticket in the 2022 polls.
But Deputy President Kithure Kindiki explained that elected members didn't need to register as aspirants, suggesting that the ruling party still has a window to attract more candidates in the run-up to the 2027 General Election.
“Incumbent UDA governors, senators, MPs or MCAs don't need to register as aspirants at the moment,” said Prof Kindiki.
“The exercise of registration of aspirants is continuous until the statutory limit of 90 days before the election date.”
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
While some of President Ruto’s Rift Valley counties enlisted as high as 16 aspirants for the governor position, politicians from Mt Kenya seem to have adopted a wait-and-see strategy before they can decide on which party to run on.
For instance, Baringo has recorded 16 governor aspirants, six for senate, 30 for Woman Rep, 84 for MP and 479 for MCAs, while in Elgeyo/Marakwet, 10 have registered for governor, 15 for senate, 10 for Woman Rep, 43 for MP and 278 for MCAs.
In Kericho, 13 have applied to run for governor, 11 for senate, 17 for Woman Rep, 71 for MP and 478 for MCA, while in Nandi, 10 have applied to run for governor, 15 for senate, 21 for Woman Rep, 104 for MP and 478 for MCA. In Bomet, three have applied for governor, 9 for senate, 17 for Woman Rep, 55 for MP and 366 for MCA.
But in Mt Kenya, no single aspirant has applied to run for Embu, Murang’a, Laikipia and Nyandarua governor seats, while Nyeri, Kirinyaga and Meru have only attracted one aspirant each. Nakuru and Kiambu have, however, attracted three aspirants. Nakuru is largely cosmopolitan, with several ethnic communities.
The data by the party means it has no opponent for Governor Cecily Mbarire, at least for now. Mbarire is the UDA national chairperson and would be seeking a second term in office.
In the senate race, however, the ticket has attracted 10 aspirants, Woman Rep (5), MP (13), MCA (103).
In Kiambu, Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a is among three aspirants seeking to challenge Governor Kimani Wamatangi. The other two are Kimani Waceke and Robert Ndirangu.
Governor Wamatangi is conspicuously missing in the list of applicants. Elected leaders were, however, not required to register, but those who seemed to have made up their mind on the ticket to defend their seats on deliberately registered as a sign of commitment.
Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi.
Photo credit: Pool
Governor Wamatangi also skipped last week’s National Governing Council meeting hosted by the President at State House. A total of nine have applied to run for Senate, Woman Rep (6), MP (31) and MCA (469). Former Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria, who is the founding leader of Chama Cha Kazi, has also applied to run for Gatundu South, which he represented in the last Parliament.
In Kirinyaga, Kirinyaga Central MP Joseph Gitari seeks to succeed Governor Anne Waiguru, who is doing her final term. The senate seat in the county has attracted four aspirants, Woman Rep (4), MP (9) and MCA (95).
In Laikipia, no aspirant has shown interest in the governor's seat, while the senate has attracted four, Woman Rep (5), MP (7) and MCA (74).
In Meru, only Pius Murugu has applied to run for governor, while four others are running for the senate seat, Woman Rep (2), MP (23) and MCA (315).
In Murang’a, no politician has shown interest in the governor's seat, while the Senate has attracted five aspirants, Woman Rep (3), MP (11) and MCA (276).
In Nakuru, Governor Susan Kihika, Hillary Kipngeno and Joseph Rotich will face off for the party ticket, while the senate seat has attracted 13 aspirants, Woman Rep (12), MP (77) and MCA (586).
In Tharaka-Nithi, Tharaka MP George Murugara and his Maara MP Kareke Mbiuki will face off for the party ticket in their quest to succeed Governor Muthomi Njuki. Another five aspirants have declared interest for Senate, Woman Rep (5), MP (14) and MCA (140).
A total of 12,353 aspirants have registered to run on the party ticket. They include 149 politicians seeking to run for governor, 279 seeking to run for the senate seat, 323 for Woman Rep, 1372 for Member of National Assembly and 10230 for the 1450 ward representative positions.
In the 2022 presidential race, the 10 Mt Kenya counties and the seven from the North Rift collectively handed Dr Ruto 4.5 million votes, which translated to 63 per cent of his total votes.
Laikipia, Tharaka-Nithi, Murang’a, Kiambu, Nyeri, Kirinyaga, Nyandarua, Embu, Meru and Nakuru collectively gave Dr Ruto nearly three million votes.
With 2,938, 309 votes from the 10 Mt Kenya counties, Dr Ruto topped up with 1.6 million votes from seven North Rift counties.
But the trends in the registration of aspirants could force him to scout for alternative bases for his re-election.
Mt Kenya, which swept Dr Ruto to power in 2022, is perceived to be drifting away following the impeachment of Mr Rigathi Gachagua as Deputy President in October 2024.
Some of Dr Ruto’s key allies in the region have declared support for Mr Gachagua, who is aggressively selling his Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) as the new outfit for the region.
Some of the UDA leaders perceived to have fallen out with Dr Ruto and could be on their way out of the party include Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu), John Methu (Nyandarua Senator), Joe Nyutu (Murang’a), Karungo Thang’wa (Kiambu), Benjamin Gathiru alias Mejja Donk (Embakasi Central), James Gakuya (Embakasi North), James Murango (Kirinyaga), and John Kinyua (Laikipia).
