Who will win the mountain? Mt Kenya’s 2027 battle heats up as leaders are urged to unite

The road to the State House in 2027 runs through Mt Kenya. But as the election approaches, the biggest challenge facing the region’s political leaders may be agreeing on who should lead them.

With several influential politicians positioning themselves for the next general election, Mt Kenya is emerging as one of the most fiercely contested political battlegrounds. Now, Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba is warning that competing political interests could divide a region whose voting strength has made it central to presidential elections.

On Thursday, October 30, Wamuchomba urged Mt Kenya leaders from different political parties to embrace unity and political tolerance. Speaking during a livestream, she warned against the growing hostility among politicians from the region.

“Mt Kenya has never practised politics of hatred,” she said, expressing concern that political disagreements could push the region towards division.

Her proposal was straightforward. Every leader should establish their political strength, count their votes and bring them to a common negotiating table. She also pointed to leaders in Western Kenya, who have managed to set aside past differences to consolidate their political influence.

Wamuchomba recently left UDA, although she has yet to announce which party or elective seat she will pursue in 2027.

Mt Kenya’s political importance is difficult to ignore. The region delivered approximately 87 per cent of its presidential votes to William Ruto in the 2022 General Election, making it a significant pillar of his victory.

Four years later, that political loyalty is no longer guaranteed.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has emerged as one of Ruto’s fiercest critics. Through his Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), he is seeking to consolidate opposition support in the region.

Meanwhile, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has become the government’s leading political figure in Mt Kenya. His task is to convince voters that the region still has a place in Ruto’s political administration.

Another interesting development is the emergence of Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, who recently left UDA for the People’s Party of Kenya (PPK). His political realignment adds another dimension to an already crowded contest.

Since his impeachment in October 2024, Gachagua has positioned himself as a central figure in the opposition’s efforts to challenge Ruto’s influence in Mt Kenya. He has repeatedly argued that the region has abandoned UDA and its leadership.

In July 2026, the former deputy president declared that UDA would fail to secure a single elective seat in Mt Kenya during the 2027 General Election. He cited the Ol Kalou by-election defeat as evidence that the ruling party’s popularity was declining.

However, Gachagua faces his own challenge. Building a strong opposition movement requires more than criticising the government. He must convince other influential politicians and voters to rally behind a common political direction.

Whether leaders outside DCP will support his ambitions remains one of the major questions ahead of 2027.

On the government side, Kindiki has become an important figure in Ruto’s efforts to maintain support across Mt Kenya. The Deputy President has been involved in grassroots political mobilisation, while UDA allies have continued defending the government’s support in the region.

Some leaders have also pushed for Kindiki to remain Ruto’s running mate in 2027, arguing that dropping him could weaken the President’s influence in Mt Kenya. Ruto, meanwhile, has pointed to by-election victories as evidence that UDA still enjoys support.

However, the political picture is not entirely straightforward. The ruling party secured a narrow victory in Mbeere North but suffered a significant defeat in Ol Kalou. Kindiki later celebrated victories in the Evurore and Muminji by-elections.

These results give both political camps ammunition to defend their claims of popularity. More importantly, they suggest that Mt Kenya voters are not necessarily moving in one political direction.

The contest is not limited to Gachagua and Kindiki.

Former President Uhuru Kenyatta remains an influential political figure, despite leaving State House in 2022. His endorsement of former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i for president has introduced another possible political direction.

Matiang’i’s presidential ambitions could attract voters looking for an alternative to both Ruto and Gachagua. Ndindi Nyoro’s move to PPK also raises questions about the political alliances that could emerge before the election.

For now, the region has several politicians with national ambitions, established grassroots networks and competing political interests. That could become an advantage during negotiations. However, it could also create the divisions Wamuchomba is warning against.

Wamuchomba’s remarks raise an important question: Can Mt Kenya leaders agree on a common political strategy before the next general election?

For the opposition, the challenge will be bringing different political parties and influential leaders under one arrangement. Without coordination, competing candidates could divide votes and weaken their collective bargaining power.

For Ruto, the task is different. He must convince a region that overwhelmingly supported him in 2022 to give his administration another chance. Ultimately, the Mountain’s political future may depend on more than the popularity of individual leaders.

With the 2027 General Election approaching, voters will have to decide whose promises, political alliances and leadership credentials deserve their support.

And while politicians are busy competing for control of the Mountain, one question remains: Will Mt Kenya choose one political direction, or will its leaders take the region in several different directions?

MercyKamau feedback-opera-news-app@opera.com