Machakos Governor Wavinya Ndeti faces a fight for the Wiper ticket from Mavoko MP Patrick Makau, whose growing closeness to the Linda Mwananchi movement could upset the political arithmetic ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Mr Makau has declared he will contest the party nomination and ruled out a direct ticket for the incumbent, who won the seat on Wiper in 2022 and is seeking a second term.
“I am running as Wiper governor for Machakos in 2027,” he said, insisting that Ms Ndeti face him in party primaries.
Machakos County Governor Wavinya Ndeti.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation Media Group
The contest has become a three-horse race with the entry of former State House Chief of Staff Nzioka Waita, who has joined the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) as an alternative to the governor.
Mr Waita accompanied President William Ruto on his four-day development tour of Ukambani last week, where the Head of State acknowledged his quest to unseat Ms Ndeti.
“We want development for our people, and it can only be achieved when we work with the government,” said Mr Waita. He has framed his campaign around service delivery, focusing on healthcare, water, the county economy and youth jobs.
“My job is to ensure that our hospitals return to the state in which former Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua left them, People’s Park is restored, the water problem is fixed, the county’s economy improves, and youth get jobs,” he has said. Even as he seeks the Wiper ticket, Mr Makau has increasingly appeared alongside leaders associated with Linda Mwananchi, whose prominent figures include Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna.
In August, he publicly declared support for Mr Sifuna’s presidential ambitions.
“I stand firmly with H.E. Edwin Watenya Sifuna,” he said.
The declaration has raised questions about how far he intends to pursue the association while remaining in Wiper. His links with the movement could become significant if the nomination contest turns acrimonious.
For Wiper, the stakes go beyond Machakos. Ms Ndeti’s fortunes are tied to those of party leader Kalonzo Musyoka , who is seeking the presidency in 2027, and retaining the county would give him a vital base as he consolidates support across Ukambani.
The race is also a test of the party’s ability to manage competing ambitions in its stronghold as new formations and shifting alliances reshape the region’s politics.
Local analysts say the first major test will come before the General Election, when Wiper decides how to choose its candidate.
“A competitive nomination would force Ms Ndeti and Mr Makau to mobilise their respective networks and demonstrate their support among party members.
How the process is managed could influence whether the eventual candidate enters the general election with a united party behind them,” says Mr Nicholas Mutisya, a former Kalama Ward MCA aspirant.
Patrick Makau, the Member of Parliament for Mavoko Constituency.
Photo credit: Billy Ogada | Nation Media Group
A disputed nomination, on the other hand, could create room for further political realignments.
“Mr Makau’s association with Linda Mwananchi adds another dimension to that possibility, although his public support for Mr Sifuna does not, by itself, mean he has left Wiper or committed to contesting on another party’s ticket,” Mr Mutisya adds.
For UDA, Mr Waita’s candidacy offers a chance to challenge Wiper’s dominance in Machakos. Whether he can turn his move into significant electoral support will depend on his ability to build a countywide network and persuade voters that he is a viable alternative.
Mr Nzioka Waita during a past interview.
Photo credit: File
Ms Ndeti, for her part, must defend her record as she seeks Wiper’s endorsement.
Each contender is thus approaching the race from a distinct position: Ms Ndeti as incumbent, Mr Makau as internal challenger with outside links, and Mr Waita as UDA’s face in the county.
For voters, healthcare, water, jobs and the economy will come under scrutiny.
The race is unfolding amid wider changes in opposition politics, with leaders weighing party loyalty against personal ambition.
For now, Ms Ndeti, Mr Makau and Mr Waita are the three publicly identified contenders. But the final shape of the race may depend less on the number of candidates than on what happens inside Wiper, and whether the battle for its ticket triggers another round of realignments before voters go to the polls.
