Kimani Ngunjiri Calls for New Mt. Kenya Party Ahead of 2027 Elections

Former Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri has asserted that the Mt. Kenya region will need its own political party in the lead-up to the 2027 elections.

Ngunjiri contends that the region’s participation in the Kenya Kwanza alliance lacked a formal agreement, potentially compromising its position within the coalition. Despite the Mt Kenya region’s substantial support for Kenya Kwanza, Ngunjiri argues that tangible benefits have been scarce. He advocates for the establishment of a robust political vehicle to safeguard the region’s interests beyond 2027. The former legislator emphasizes the importance of unity among the populous Mt Kenya electorate, urging them to collectively determine and support a candidate of their choosing.

“It does not matter who will vie for the top seat. Let everybody look for support and afterwards, we can all sit and negotiate and then whoever we decide to vote for, let’s vote for them as a block,” he said while speaking at Riandegwa ACK church in Kandara.

Ngunjiri proposes a resource allocation system that would better serve densely populated areas, implying that such a mechanism could address the perceived imbalance in benefits received by the region. He questions the value of continued loyalty in the absence of transparency, suggesting that those who championed President Ruto during his campaign now occupy positions of power without clear accountability. The former MP also calls upon the president to restrain supporters who have allegedly targeted Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.

“Other people that we were fighting for Ruto during campaigns are now in government. What’s the use of staying loyal? Having one strong party can only work if there’s absolute transparency,” he added.

Ngunjiri reiterates Gachagua’s significance as a prominent leader in the region, asserting that he commands considerable support from constituents and merits appropriate respect. It is worth noting that earlier this year, Ngunjiri announced his departure from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party, citing a lack of recognition for his contributions. Gachagua has continued to assert his position as the political kingpin of the Mt. Kenya region, dismissing rumours of his potential ouster from the Kenya Kwanza government.

Speaking at a recent gathering in Kagumo, Kirinyaga, Gachagua emphasized his electoral mandate alongside President William Ruto, urging critics to cease speculating about his political future and instead focus on developmental issues. President Ruto, who was also present, reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to economic transformation and national unity, highlighting recent appointments of opposition figures to his cabinet as evidence of his broad-based governance approach.