From Ubuntu to Reform: The mushrooming pro Ruto parties in Mt Kenya

President William Ruto at Ngarachi Comprehensive School in Laikipia West during the beginning of his tour of the Mt. Kenya region on April 1, 2025. [Kipsang Joseph, Standard]

Amid the fast-growing unpopularity of the ruling United Democratic Alliance in Mt Kenya region, President William Ruto’s allies continue to acquire the leadership of alternative political parties, a strategy aimed at seeking re-election and, at the same time, overtly consolidating Ruto’s support in next year’s polls in the vote-rich region.

Despite the UDA garnering the highest number of all the elective seats in the region in the 2022 general election, the growing displeasure amongst the Mt Kenya region Constituency over several issues such as the high cost of living, the government’s failure to fulfill its promises, and Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s impeachment has alienated the region from Ruto’s grip.

Additionally, the recent Olkalou by-election that saw UDA’s candidate lose to Gachagua’s Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) with a margin of over 30000 votes have forced pro-government leaders to come up with ways in which they will consolidate support for their political relevance as well as indirectly mobilising support for Ruto’s re-election.

Some of Ruto’s key allies, who include MPs and high-ranking officials serving in his government who has acquired political parties include former Laikipia Governor Ndiritu Muriithi who is currently serving as the Kenya Revenue Authority Board Chairperson, who0 has taen over the Kenya Reform Party,  Former Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui, the current Cabinet Secretary for Trade who has rejoined Ubuntu Peoples Party (UPP) Ndia Mp George Kariuki who has reportedly acquired The National Party of Kenya (TNP) which was previously owned by Former Thika Town MP Patrick Wainaina.

Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) members, led by the Secretary General John Methu, during a media briefing on the Ebola. [Benard Orwongo, Standard]

Other political outfits include Former Mungiki leader Maina Njenga’s Mkenya Solidarity Party and Laikipia East Mwangi Kiunjuri’s The Service Party (TSP) that are tasked with fielding aspirants and spreading the Tutam (Two-term) gospel in the Mt Kenya region.

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, according to sources, has been tasked to team up with Governors Cecile Mbarire (Embu), Muthomi Njuki (Tharaka-Nithi) and Isaac Mutuma (Meru) to popularize the UDA party in the Mt Kenya East region using ‘mtu wetu’ strategy to claim that the party belonged to the region since Kindiki served as Ruto’s Deputy and also was one of the Deputy Party leaders of the UDA party.

The leaders will be using their political parties to vie for the gubernatorial seat in their respective counties while demanding tailor made development projects from President Ruto as a minimum for the locals' support for his re-election.

The strategy, according to the insiders, will be to lock out the DCP party in the specific regions while inadvertently campaigning for Ruto.

The parties will also be demanding that a position of running mate is reserved for Mt Kenya region so that when the President retains Kindiki they will hold celebrations in the respective areas thanking Ruto for keeping his word.

Already, leaders such as Kiunjuri have warned that his TSP party will not support Ruto’s re-election if he doesn't retain Kindiki as the second in command, adding that the party will lobby for Kindiki.

"If the slot of Deputy President won't be from Mt. Kenya, I will not support the Kenya Kwanza administration," Kiunjuri said

On Monday, the KRA Board chair took over as leader of the Kenya Reform Party (KRP said manufacturing and local production will be at the centre of its agenda ahead of the 2027 General Election.

He said KRP would establish and expand industrial parks in all 47 counties and create a Sh150 billion market-led mass production fund aimed at supporting producers and lowering the cost of credit.

“We shall establish and expand industrial parks in all 47 counties. That we shall create a Sh150 billion market-led mass production fund. That we shall focus on manufacturing. That we shall buy down the cost of credit,” Muriithi said.

The party also proposes production hubs at ward level and the local manufacture of machines, equipment and tools required by businesses.

Ndia Mp George Kariuki on his part, has been holding meetings in his Ndia home in Kirinyaga where he has been consolidating the grassroots leaders to support the government agenda.

Mps, aware of the government's loss of favour, have started announcing that they will not use UDA to seek re-election. One such leader is Gigil Mp Martha Wangari who is eyeing her third term.

She said she was not in a hurry to settle on a political party, describing it as one of the last considerations as she weighs her options ahead of the 2027 polls.

The legislator says her independent positions on political issues have earned her accusations of being a “fence-sitter”, but maintains that she will not support wrongdoing simply because it is being done by those in government or by people on her side of the political divide.

She points to her opposition to Gachagua’s impeachment, saying her position was based on whether the constitutional threshold for impeachment had been met rather than political allegiance.

On his part, Gachagua claims Ruto was behind the proliferation of political parties in the region in what he described as his strategy to divide the region into pieces.

"We have our party DCP; don't fall into the trap of William's party wheelbarrow. Our home party is DCP in Mt Kenya, and it is our party to look for our government," Gachagua added

He further warned that the parties are aiming to split the Mt Kenya vote. "He is forming parties in Mt Kenya to divide our votes. Don't fall for it," he cautioned.

According to Herman Manyora, a political analyst said more parties will be established in Mt Kenya region but he opined that it would be an exercise in futility since the region was gravitating around DCP.

“There are many parties that will come up in Mt Kenya region but the question remains whether the parties will be able to provide people with an exit from the DCP because we must agree that the DCP is the party, the truth and the honest answer is that you must work extremely hard to get a piece of Mt Kenya if you are not in DCP,” he said.

He however, admitted that the small parties may help consolidate votes for Ruto.