The return of Alfred Keter: Former MP joins forces with Linda Mwananchi

“We are out to create a robust political force that will give President William Ruto and his team sleepless nights and I am urging electorates in Rift valley to vote with their conscience,” appealed Mr Keter, who is viewed as a thorn in the flesh and a political detractor in the region.

The return of Mr Keter to active politics comes after his bitter fallout with President Ruto’s political machinery, which culminated in his defeat during the hotly contested UDA nominations ahead of the 2022 polls-a process he claimed was marred by irregularities.

Mr Keter was first elected to represent the cosmopolitan Nandi Hills constituency in 2013 and retained the seat in 2017 on a jubilee ticket but lost in 2022 after he was denied the UDA ticket in the primaries.

Read: Alfred Keter: The last man standing in Rift Valley

He turned independent but lost to UDA candidate Bernard Kitur with 18,037 against Kitur’s 23,503 in what was seen as a battle between President Ruto and independent candidates in the region.

President Ruto is viewed as the Kalenjin supremo and the former Nandi Hills legislator has been branded a rebel out to scuttle Dr Ruto’s second term in office.

The former MP accused the Kenya Kwanza administration of failure to address economic hardship facing ordinary Kenyans, claiming corruption and mismanagement had crippled critical sectors of the economy.

He took a swipe at President Ruto’s administration for allegedly blundering the country’s economy citing massive corruption in the health, housing, agriculture among other sub-sectors.

“The current administration has done little to uplift the socio-economic status of Kenyans and I am teaming up with likeminded politicians like Mr Sifuna, Babu Owino and others to liberate this country,” said the former lawmaker in a telephone interview.

Despite renewed speculation over his political future, Mr Keter has clarified that he has no intension of contesting for a parliamentary or any other elective seat in 2027, insisting that his primary mission is to mobilize opposition against President Ruto’s re-election bid.

“I hold no personal grudges against President Ruto. It is only that we do not hold common political ideologies on issues affecting our people and the entire country and that is why he does not deserve a second term in office,” said Mr Keter.

He disclosed plans by his brigade to hold political rallies the cross to popularise their outfits as they seek to make Dr Ruto a one-term president.

“We have planned rallies in Meru and Eldoret among other parts of the country. Ours is issue oriented politics aimed at taking to task the current administration on woes facing almost all sectors of the economy,” explained Mr Keter.

He censored the Kenya Kwanza administration over the miseries facing the agriculture sector citing the tea industry where low bonuses and hefty charges is rendering it unprofitable investment.

“While tea farmers are earning less than 10 as bonus their counterparts in the cereal sector are facing challenges accessing top dressing fertilizer while the skyrocketing fuel prices is pushing high production costs subjecting farmers to incur losses,” said Mr Keter.

“This administration has mismanaged the education sector as attested in what is happening in the financially troubled Moi University. The health sector is in ruins and that is why we are calling on the electorates to vote with their conscious in the next General Election,” said Mr Keter.

He took issue with the Kenya Kwanza government over the slow pace revival of the Eldoret-based new Rivatex almost a year after it was handed over to a non-strategic partner in a 21-year lease.

“The current regime has proved incapable of fixing dilemmas facing such industries like Rivatex and manufacturing sector to create employment and propel socio-economic growth and the electorates should use [the] General election to vote it out,” said Mr Keter.

His political comeback further complicates politics in the region, where UDA elected leaders trading sharp accusations over alleged mismanagement of public resources. The spat is increasingly shaping early alliances and rival camps ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The emerging political rivalry has increasingly dominated political discourse in a region long regarded as a key battleground in Rift Valley politics with the rival groups trading accusations and counter-accusations over loyalty to UDA principles and role in President Ruto’s re-election strategy.

Rival camps allied to Senator Jackson Mandago and Governor Jonathan Bii have intensified efforts to consolidate their influence in the local politics ahead of the 2027 General Elections.

At the centre of the unfolding political battle are accusations and counteraccusations over the management of public resources, governance issues and roles in President Ruto’s re-election campaign, in a region where UDA enjoys fanatical following.

“What is happening is early campaigning disguised as oversight and the claims boil down to who rules supreme in Uasin Gishu politics,” argued Joseph Kemboi, a political analyst.

Political analysts add that the counter-accusations signal a return to familiar pre-election dynamics in Uasin Gishu, a region where development records and corruption claims often become rallying points for revival political camps.

“What is happening is that some leaders are distancing themselves from former allies and building alternative networks. The accusations have nothing to do with governance issues but early campaigns for the 2027 General elections,” added Mr Kemboi.

Lawmakers David Kiplagat (Soy) and Julius Ruto (Kesses) have teamed up with Senator Mandago, accusing Governor Bii of misuse of development funds and incomplete projects. The governor has repeatedly denied the accusations and instead defended his track record.

“Uasin Gishu is entering the realignment phase earlier than expected,” said a political analyst based in Eldoret. “You can see leaders distancing themselves from former allies and building alternative networks. What we are witnessing is not just a governance debate but the laying of groundwork for 2027,” said Mathew Sang, a local political analyst.

He added that the realignment reflects the struggle for control of local networks and succession politics.

With almost one and half years to the General Election, Uasin Gishu’s political temperature is already rising, suggesting that the drawn battle lines could define leadership contests and the direction of the county’s development agenda in the years ahead.

Senator Mandago has criticised Governor Bii over the delayed completion of multi-billion projects in health and roads, most of which he initiated while he was governor but remains unfinished after Mr Bii took office.

“It is unfortunate the county government is hiring graders yet when I was in the office I bought them. Why use a lot of resources to lease other machineries?” Senator Mandago asked. He claimed that his administration bought 14 graders to ease the burden of road maintenance.

He also noted unfinished health facilities he initiated, saying that the projects have now been taken over by the national government.

But Governor Bii has fired back at his predecessor and his associates, questioning their political loyalty to UDA and commitment to supporting President Ruto re-election.

He has branded them as sympathisers of DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua and asked the electorate to re-examine their political support for UDA and President Ruto.

“Even if you hate me, take a review of my development track record and at least support the re-election of our President for a second term,” appealed Governor Bii.

Uasin Gish County is one of President Ruto’s key support bases and often influences political trends in the vote-rich Rift Valley region.

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