President William Ruto has turned to United Democratic Alliance (UDA) grassroots leaders in a high-stakes bid to reclaim Mount Kenya, following the weakening of his grip on the vote-rich region after the impeachment of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua. 

The President is anchoring his strategy on development, inclusivity, and grassroots mobilisation, and he has tasked his Deputy, Prof. Kithure Kindiki, to consolidate the gains made by his administration in the region as he renews his push to reclaim the region’s support ahead of the 2027 general election. 

While addressing grassroots leaders from Nyeri County at Sagana State Lodge on January 17, President Ruto stated his re-election strategy will also focus on expanding voter turnout and broadening the UDA national footprint. He intends to make it a mass national political party that will partner with like-minded movements to advance Kenya’s transformation agenda. The President met over 17,000 grassroots leaders, most of whom are newly elected UDA officials. He pledged to complete stalled projects that began during the administration of former President Uhuru Kenyatta and expand the ones initiated by his government. 

The President announced increased funding for key infrastructure projects, including the KSh 4 billion 700Km  Mau roads, an additional KSh 2 billion for a further 500Km  of road plan, and a KSh 1 billion upgrade of the Nyeri County Referral Hospital. He also countered the narrative of betrayal by the former Deputy President, as well as claims that Mt. Kenya was underdeveloped under the current regime. 

Prof. Kindiki won the Mbeere North parliamentary seat for UDA in the November 27 mini polls. However, he still faces the risk of being dropped as President Ruto’s running mate in 2027 if his partnership fails to guarantee significant numbers. The Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) has laid claim to the seat as a condition for backing President Ruto’s re-election. Additionally, Prof. Kindiki is locked in a supremacy battle with his predecessor, Gachagua, who launched an aggressive onslaught against the Kenya Kwanza administration after his impeachment. 

On January 21, Suna East MP Junet Mohamed signalled a possible political shift, stating that the opposition could support President Ruto in the 2027 general election if ongoing dialogue produces favourable outcomes. Junet was speaking during an interview on Citizen TV JKLive, where he described politics as unpredictable, stating that no option was off the table. “Politics is the art of the unknown. Anything can happen in politics. Friends are foes today; foes are friends tomorrow. It’s normal in politics.” 

Recently, the President chaired a UDA National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting at State House, Nairobi, where the top executive body confirmed that the President has been tasked with leading structured talks with ODM. The aim is to strengthen the Kenya Kwanza Coalition and negotiate a coalition agreement for the 2027 elections. This indicates an evolving political landscape as parties begin positioning early  ahead of next year’s general elections, with shifting alliances. The ODM structures across the country are also being mobilised to back the planned coalition with UDA for next year’s polls, ahead of the party’s National Delegates Conference (NDC) expected this year. 

Already, in Western Kenya, President Ruto has deployed a multi-layered campaign to capture the region’s votes ahead of 2027, deploying Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula, and Cooperatives and Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) Development Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya spearheading the plan.