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NAIROBI – The vote-rich Mt Kenya region, once considered President William Ruto’s political bedrock, appears to be shifting as influential politicians abandon the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) for former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP).
In recent weeks, a steady stream of leaders from the region, including MPs, MCAs and grassroots mobilisers, have publicly declared their exit from UDA, citing frustration with the government’s handling of regional concerns. Their defections have fuelled growing speculation that the Kenya Kwanza administration is losing its grip on a region that delivered millions of votes in the 2022 General Election.
Mr Gachagua, who was impeached and removed from office in 2024, has capitalised on the sentiment, crisscrossing the region and presenting DCP as a home for those disillusioned with the current administration. At rallies, he has urged residents to reject what he describes as the neglect of Mt Kenya’s interests, while promising a political realignment ahead of the 2027 polls.
Political analysts say the movement could prove decisive. Mt Kenya remains one of the country’s largest voting blocs, and any significant erosion of Dr Ruto’s support there would complicate his re-election bid. Observers note that the region’s voters are often united in their choices, meaning a shift can happen quickly and at scale.
Allies of the President, however, have dismissed the defections as inconsequential. They argue that the government’s development projects, including road construction, affordable housing and agricultural reforms, continue to enjoy backing among ordinary residents. UDA leaders have also vowed to intensify their outreach in the region and to counter the narrative being pushed by the opposition.
Still, the pace of defections has unsettled party strategists, who are said to be considering fresh tactics to stem the losses. With the 2027 election drawing closer, the battle for Mt Kenya is shaping up as one of the most closely watched contests in the country’s politics.
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