President William Ruto will this week confront the political shadow of his former deputy Rigathi Gachagua as his United Democratic Alliance (UDA) prepares to hold grassroots elections in Mt Kenya ahead of the 2027 polls.
The ruling party is scheduled to conduct grassroots elections in its strongholds of Mt Kenya and Rift Valley on Saturday in an exercise expected to serve as a barometer for possible political realignments.
These two regions were instrumental in sweeping President Ruto to power in 2022, but Mt Kenya is now perceived to be drifting away following the impeachment of Mr Gachagua in October 2024.
UDA national elections board’s Chairman Anthony Mwaura.
Photo credit: File | Nation Media Group
UDA National Elections Board Chairman Anthony Mwaura told the Daily Nation that the party expects fierce competition, citing the high interest from members contesting various positions. He noted that the party had to extend the registration deadline twice to accommodate all aspiring candidates.
The registration deadline was initially set for December 23, 2025, then moved to December 31, and finally to January 5, 2026. By December 23, close to 100,000 members had applied to contest for various polling centre-level seats, according to Mr Mwaura.
At the polling centre level, the party plans to elect a total of 20 officials.
A party document titled Grassroots Election Guide shows that elections will include three representatives of religious groups, four representatives of traders, three representatives of professionals, four representatives of youth and one representative for Special Interest Groups.
United Democratic Alliance Elections Board Chairman Anthony Mwaura addresses the media about preparations for the grassroots elections on April 9, 2025.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group
Mr Mwaura said a total of 24,000 polling clerks, 12,000 presiding officers and 24,000 police officers will be deployed to manage the elections.
“We are prepared for the elections. Polling materials will start being transported from Wednesday. Today (Monday) we are training county returning officers, who will in turn train constituency returning officers, who will hire polling clerks,” said Mr Mwaura.
The elections will be conducted in Embu, Kiambu, Kirinyaga, Laikipia, Meru, Murang’a, Nyandarua, Nyeri and Tharaka Nithi counties. In Rift Valley, polling will take place in Baringo, Bomet, Elgeyo Marakwet, Kericho, Nakuru, Nandi, Trans Nzoia, Uasin Gishu and Samburu counties. In Western Kenya, polls will be held in Kakamega and Vihiga counties.
The Mt Kenya polls are expected to be a major popularity test for President Ruto, with the potential to trigger further political fallout ahead of the 2027 General Election. Voter turnout and the number of aspirants seeking party leadership positions will be crucial in gauging UDA’s influence amid perceptions that the region has become hostile toward the ruling party.
Some of Dr Ruto’s key allies in the region have declared support for Mr Gachagua, who is aggressively promoting his Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) as a new political alternative.
Several UDA leaders perceived to have fallen out with Dr Ruto and potentially leaving the party include Ndindi Nyoro (Kiharu), John Methu (Nyandarua Senator), Joe Nyutu (Murang’a), Karungo Thang’wa (Kiambu), Benjamin Gathiru aka Mejja Donk (Embakasi Central), James Gakuya (Embakasi North), James Murango (Kirinyaga), and John Kinyua (Laikipia).
Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, once considered a potential successor, has been politically adrift, operating as a "lone ranger" and avoiding public alliances with either President Ruto or the Gachagua-led opposition.
Photo credit: File | Nation
In Kakamega, Senator Boni Khalwale has also fallen out with President Ruto after being recently removed as Senate Majority Whip.
Mr Mwaura noted that while the party does not intend to block members from contesting, those who have publicly declared support for Mr Gachagua are not expected to seek UDA positions.
“Those associating with other political parties should do the honourable thing and resign from UDA. They should not try to run for UDA positions,” he said.
Some allies of Mr Gachagua, who had declared intentions to run for top party positions before his impeachment in October 2024, include Embakasi North MP James Gakuya, who had expressed interest in running for Nairobi branch chairperson.
Apart from possible low turnout, President Ruto will also seek to ward off external interference, which in the past has caused political parties to abandon elections over fears that moles could hijack the process.
Party elections have historically been divisive and chaotic in Kenya prompting many parties to adopt consensus methods or use electoral colleges to select officials.
The decision to proceed with the elections is part of President Ruto’s re-election strategy, aimed at ensuring the party’s national leadership reflects current political realignments before the 2027 campaigns.
President William Ruto addresses delegates during UDA's National Governing Council meeting at the Bomas of Kenya on September 29, 2023.
The ruling party plans to hold its National Delegates Convention (NDC) in April 2026 to elect national office bearers as part of preparations for Dr Ruto’s re-election bid.
UDA began its ambitious grassroots elections in April 2024 but had to abandon the exercise after nationwide Gen Z protests in June, having completed elections in only Busia and Homa Bay counties out of the five scheduled in the first phase.
In April 2025, the party conducted elections in another 22 counties, bringing the total so far to 27.
