Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has stepped up efforts to rebuild President William Ruto’s political support in the Mount Kenya region as several influential leaders distance themselves from the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ahead of the 2027 General Election.
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According to reports by The Star and People Daily, Kindiki has intensified grassroots engagements, held meetings with community elders and sought to position himself as a link between Mount Kenya residents and the national government. The efforts come amid growing political competition between Ruto’s administration and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s camp.
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The developments highlight the growing importance of Mount Kenya in the political calculations surrounding the next general election.
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Kindiki Turns to Elders to Rebuild Political Support
One of Kindiki’s latest initiatives has been to engage traditional leaders and cultural institutions as part of efforts to promote unity across Mount Kenya.
On September 19, 2026, elders representing communities from Mount Kenya East and West gathered at Kirigiti Stadium in Kiambu County, where they endorsed Kindiki as the region’s spokesperson and representative.
During the gathering, the elders called for unity and urged leaders to avoid political divisions that could weaken the region’s collective voice.
Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku also returned a symbolic axe he had previously used to represent the political separation between Mount Kenya East and West. The elders subsequently handed him a flywhisk as a symbol of reconciliation.
The meeting was significant because it sought to redirect attention from regional divisions towards a common political and development agenda.
However, the endorsement has not received unanimous support among elected leaders. Ndia MP George Kariuki and Juja MP George Koimburi questioned whether the gathering had the authority to designate Kindiki as the spokesperson for the entire region.
Ruto Faces Pressure as UDA Leaders Explore Other Parties
Kindiki’s mobilisation efforts come as UDA faces departures by politicians who previously campaigned under its banner.
According to People Daily, Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba and Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja are among the prominent figures whose decisions have added to the party’s challenges.
Karanja announced her move to Gachagua’s Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), while Wamuchomba’s decision to abandon the UDA ticket for her 2027 parliamentary contest has raised further questions about the ruling party’s ability to retain its political networks.
Other developments include Nyandarua Governor Kiarie Badilisha’s move to DCP and Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro’s political alignment with the People’s Party of Kenya.
These changes illustrate the competition for political influence in a region that played an important role in Ruto’s victory in the 2022 presidential election.
Nevertheless, individual politicians changing parties does not automatically mean that their supporters will abandon the President. The extent to which these defections translate into changes in voter preferences remains uncertain.
How Kindiki Is Trying to Keep Mount Kenya Within Government
Kindiki has consistently urged leaders from Mount Kenya East to remain within the Kenya Kwanza administration rather than join the opposition.
In remarks reported by People Daily in July 2026, the Deputy President argued that regional leaders should pursue their interests from within the government they helped establish.
His strategy has increasingly combined grassroots political mobilisation, engagement with elders and calls for development across the region.
The September gathering at Kirigiti provided another platform for Kindiki to promote that approach.
The Deputy President has also maintained that Mount Kenya should remain united despite disagreements among its political leaders. His position places him at the centre of an increasingly visible contest over who should represent the region’s interests in national politics.
Gachagua’s Opposition Adds Another Challenge
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua remains an important figure in the unfolding political realignment.
Through DCP, Gachagua has sought to establish an alternative political platform for leaders dissatisfied with Ruto’s administration.
The competition intensified following Gachagua’s impeachment in October 2024, which disrupted the political partnership that had helped unite the Kenya Kwanza coalition.
A July 2026 parliamentary by-election in Ol Kalou also demonstrated the strength of the competition. DCP candidate Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru defeated UDA candidate Samuel Muchina Nyaga, according to People Daily’s reporting on the wider political realignment. However, a single by-election cannot establish how the entire region will vote in 2027.
What Happens Next?
With the 2027 General Election approaching, Kindiki faces the challenge of translating meetings with elders and grassroots mobilisation into broader political support for the government.
For Ruto, the departures of prominent leaders raise questions about the future of UDA’s political organisation in Mount Kenya. The administration must also contend with competing demands from leaders seeking greater attention to their constituencies and regional interests.
Whether Kindiki’s outreach succeeds will depend partly on how residents respond to the government’s development record and whether political disagreements can be addressed through sustained engagement.
For now, the Deputy President’s strategy centres on rebuilding relationships, promoting regional unity and persuading Mount Kenya leaders to continue working with the government.
