By Anderson Ojwang

Mt Kenya is back to the first multi-party election moments in 1992, when the doyen of the opposition, the late Kenneth Nyindo Matiba, faced off with the moderate and close ally of then President, the late Daniel arap Moi, the late Mwai Kibaki.

Matiba was one of the key pillars in the constitutional movement and was detained together with the late former Prime Minister, the late Raila Amolo Odinga, and the late Charles Rubia.

Kibaki, during that time, remained a close ally of Moi and served as Vice President and later as Health Minister.

A famous saying attributed to Kibaki in the 1990s was when he likened KANU to a Mugumo tree.

In the opposition struggle for the repeal of Section 2A, Kibaki said the move was like “cutting a Mugumo tree with a razor blade.”

In the early 1990s, during the fight for multi-party democracy, Kibaki likened the mighty KANU regime to a sacred, giant fig (Mugumo) tree.

He dismissed the activists pushing for quick change as trying to cut down that massive tree with a tiny razor blade, implying the task was impossible.

But history proved Kibaki wrong as the activists’ struggle yielded the repeal of Section 2A and the humbling of KANU in the 2002 General Election, where Kibaki, leading NARC, rode to the presidency.

Similarities

Interesting similarities exist in the political chess game between Kibaki-Matiba and Gachagua-Nyoro.

For instance, Gachagua is from Wamunyoro in Othaya, while Kibaki was also from Othaya, where he served as the area Member of Parliament and rose to become the third President of Kenya. Othaya is in Nyeri County.

Matiba was the Member of Parliament for Kiharu and became the Leader of the Opposition after the 1992 presidential election.

Nyoro is the current Member of Parliament for Kiharu. Kiharu is in Murang’a County. In Mt Kenya West, Kiharu is yet to produce a president. Nyoro recently acquired the People’s Party of Kenya.

In the 1992 General Election, Kibaki’s party, Democratic Party of Kenya (DP), became the party of Nyeri County, while FORD-Asili controlled Murang’a and other parts of the Mt Kenya region.

In the 1992 presidential election, Kibaki garnered 1,050,617 votes to come third, while Matiba of FORD-Asili received 1,404,206 to come second.

Interestingly, Kibaki and Matiba’s votes combined totalled 2,454,412 against the winner Moi’s 1,962,366.

The late Jaramogi Oginga Odinga came fourth with 944,197 votes, and the combined opposition votes came to 3,398,609.

A disjointed opposition handed over the victory to Moi despite having more votes, with a margin of 1,436,243.

Just like Kibaki, Nyoro resigned from their parties, KANU and UDA respectively, a year before the elections to join their new political formations.

Both FORD-Asili and DP locked KANU out of Mt Kenya, and currently DCP and PPK are locking out President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) from the region.

Just like Matiba, Nyoro has declared nationwide rallies and will start with the Rift Valley region, where he is expected to receive an arousing welcome.

Dominance

Matiba became a dominant political figure in Mt Kenya, just like Gachagua, whose party DCP is viewed as the strongest party in the region. But PPK is also emerging as a strong challenger to DCP in the Mt Kenya power matrix.

Acting Secretary General of DCP John Methu recently dismissed Nyoro’s party as President Ruto’s project to divide the Mt Kenya vote bloc.

Methu has subtly attacked the People’s Party of Kenya (PPK) associated with Nyoro, describing it as a “green wheelbarrow” designed to dilute the influence of their party.

With Ndindi Nyoro’s PPK featuring green as one of its signature colours, a shade similar to that of DCP, Methu, without mentioning the party by name, went ahead to describe it as a strategy to confuse the region and a deliberate plan to dilute DCP’s influence in the region.

“Even that other wheelbarrow, they want to steal our color so that they can say it is a green wheelbarrow. Whether it is a green-yellow wheelbarrow or not, a wheelbarrow is just a wheelbarrow. The way we have been dealing with big wheelbarrows is the way we will deal with small wheelbarrows,” Methu stated.

Party of the region

Gachagua has stated that his party is the only political outfit to beat in the Mt Kenya region, urging residents not to be swayed by the growing number of political parties seeking to establish a foothold in the region.

Gachagua made the remarks during a series of meet-the-people tours in Nyeri County, where he led a delegation from the Wiper Patriotic Front in rallying support for DCP ahead of next year’s General Election.

Methu took aim at Nyoro’s new People’s Party of Kenya, accusing President William Ruto of using emerging political parties to divide the Mt Kenya region ahead of the 2027 elections.

“This wheelbarrow that is coming from Murang’a, we know you had a wheelbarrow coming. We know there is another wheelbarrow that is coming from Laikipia and Nakuru as you try to divide this mountain. Bring them on. A wheelbarrow is a wheelbarrow and it will be dealt with like the other wheelbarrow,” Methu stated.

Wave

Nyoro said the People’s Party continues to grow across the country, with several defections and expressions of interest in the party ticket.

“Today we received sitting, former and aspiring leaders into the party,” he said.

History is back

From whatever point you look at it, Mt Kenya has walked back to the Matiba-Kibaki era. Gachagua and Nyoro replay the script, with both likely to be on the presidential ballot and could be the vent for Ruto’s re-election.

By Anderson Ojwang

On her 76th birthday, Mama Ida Odinga shook the country’s political terrain with her monumental pronouncement.

She took her special day, her birth date, to unveil her son and the heir apparent to former Prime Minister, the late Raila Amolo Odinga, Raila Junior.

Raila moved to unveil her son Junior to the constituents of Kibra for the 2027 parliamentary seat.

With the pronouncement, Mama Ida placed Raila’s legacy to the test and Kibra, the bedroom, for a titanic duel for the seat.

Mama Ida, at her Karen residence, took the moment to formally and officially introduce her son, Raila Junior, to the Kibra constituents.

Bedroom

Kibra constituency was the political bedroom of former Prime Minister Raila Amolo Odinga, and it is where he was first elected as MP in the 1992 general elections. It was formerly known as Langata constituency before it was subdivided into two constituencies.

“Kibra was Baba’s bedroom. Raila loved Kibra. His politics rotated around Kibra. He started his Nairobi politics in Kibra. Now you people of Kibra, you have come up with another issue,” she said.

I give unto you my child

Ida said the constituents had convinced her to allow her son, Junior, to contest for the seat.

“They have told me that the child of a lion is a lion. If you have decided on that, for me, I don’t know. If you have decided, I do not know anything.

But I am leaving the boy in your hands. First, the leadership of Kibra, I have left him in your hands,” she said.

Mama Ida named Raila’s allies and tasked them with the responsibility of leading her son’s campaign.

“Bwana Speaker, Mama Catherine, Lawi and Ochieng Jera, among others. All of you who are here, I have left my child in your hands.

For those of you who are here, I have given you my child. What else do you want? If anything happens to him, it will be up to you.

All of you who have come to the front, I have given you my child. Protect and educate him,” she said.

She called for the leaders to engage in clean and non-violent politics, but issue-based.

“Remind him of those who started politics with Baba in 1992. Show him the way so that he walks the right way and does the right things.

Do clean politics devoid of abuse, violence and hooliganism. Convince people with your word and manifesto,” she said.

She said because of her current position, she will not engage in politics as civil servants are barred from politics.

“I have done many things even in Nairobi here, but I don’t want to boast of what I have done to different groups and people.

I am Permanent Representative to UNEP, a very important position. I am a civil servant. We are not politicians and campaigners, but because of the old ties and you came, you remain our people.

You should know that I will not be going out to campaign because of my position,” she said.

Junior said people have been asking whose political project he was, but said he was his own project.

“People have asked, Junior is whose project? I can only be my own project. We will meet at the ballot,” he said.

Recently, Junior hosted President William Ruto in Kibra at an educational function.

Orero red card

The decision by Mama Ida to unveil her son for the Kibra seat was a red card flashed at the incumbent, Peter Orero. Orero was a close confidant of Raila and now will have to contend with the emerging political dynamics.

Raila Junior has developed a close relationship with his uncle and the ODM party leader, Dr Oburu Oginga.

Dynamics

For Junior, he must win the seat at all costs to preserve his father’s legacy and bedroom. Any slip would dent the legacy of Raila, and that is why he has a herculean task in his hands.

For Orero, Junior’s entry into the race complicates the ODM ticket and may force him to seek an alternative vehicle.

Kibra will be a closely watched and contested battlefield, and ODM and Junior will have to up their game to protect the bedroom.

By Billy Mijungu

After a weekend of vitriolic talks by two senior Migori politicians, including leaders who have consistently issued threats against colleagues associated with Linda Mwananchi while dressed in official church regalia, Hon. Peter Masara has definitively paved the way for Linda Mwananchi to say their piece and proceed with their political programme.

Masara has displayed a high level of political maturity in the wake of the brazen violence meted out against the people of South Nyanza. He has consistently called for calm, unity, tolerance and peaceful political engagement at a time when political rhetoric has become increasingly confrontational.

His record in Suna West also deserves recognition. During his nine years as an elected Member of Parliament, Masara has focused considerable attention on education, youth empowerment, community development and the creation of opportunities for ordinary residents.

It is particularly notable that during his tenure, the number of public schools in Suna West has more than tripled, with significant attention given to both primary and secondary education. His focus has now extended to tertiary education, with efforts aimed at ensuring that young people who complete secondary school have opportunities to pursue further training and education.

This investment in education has had a wider social impact. More children have gained access to schools, more parents have become actively involved in the education of their children, and more young people have been encouraged to pursue productive activities instead of being drawn into the violent gangs that have troubled parts of Suna West for years.

Masara’s approach has been to confront the causes of violence by creating opportunities. Through support for education, youth empowerment, business initiatives and community development, he has sought to give young people alternatives to idleness and political violence.

His record also includes supporting the construction and improvement of educational facilities, facilitating opportunities for students through education support programmes, empowering local businesses and supporting community initiatives. These interventions have strengthened the foundation for long-term development in a constituency that has historically faced significant social and economic challenges.

Of all the leaders who spoke this weekend in Migori, Peter Francis Masara stood out as the leader who demonstrated the temperament and disposition expected of someone seeking to become Governor. His call for calm, unity and tolerance was particularly important in the wake of unnecessary threats directed at members and supporters of the James Orengo brigade.

Leadership is not simply about the ability to mobilise crowds or command political loyalty. It is also about knowing when to lower the political temperature, protect communities from unnecessary conflict and create space for competing political voices to be heard. On this occasion, Masara demonstrated precisely that quality.

Linda Mwananchi has announced plans for an extensive tour of Homa Bay and Migori Counties and intends to turn the region pure sky blue. That prospect is bound to concern a particular group of political actors. Yet, amid the heated political exchanges, one leader stood out by choosing maturity over confrontation.

Peter Masara’s political journey is itself significant. He has served as a councillor, a mayor, an independent Member of Parliament and later as an elected Member of Parliament on an ODM ticket. That journey demonstrates political resilience, adaptability and an ability to connect with voters across different political circumstances.

His experience in local government also gives him an understanding of public administration from the grassroots, while his years in Parliament have exposed him to national policy, legislation and constituency development. That combination provides him with a broad foundation as he positions himself for a larger leadership role.

More importantly, Masara’s record suggests a leader who understands that development must be measured not only by political rhetoric but by tangible improvements in the lives of citizens. Schools, youth opportunities, business support and community infrastructure create lasting value long after political campaigns have ended.

Suna West’s transformation in the education sector is therefore one of the strongest arguments for taking Masara’s gubernatorial ambitions seriously. A constituency that has seen substantial expansion of educational opportunities under his leadership provides a useful indication of what a development-focused administration could look like at a larger scale.

His next challenge is to translate this record into a broader countywide vision for Migori, one that brings together education, healthcare, agriculture, infrastructure, youth employment, enterprise development and peaceful political coexistence.

A Governor must be a unifier. Migori needs a leader who can bring together communities, political formations and generations without resorting to threats or intimidation. The calm posture demonstrated by Masara this weekend may therefore be more consequential than it appears.

In the fullness of time, politicians must accept accountability, tolerance and the right of others to participate freely in the democratic process. The political season has only just started, and there are still 11 long months to go.

For Peter Masara, the road ahead is increasingly clear. His record in Suna West, his political experience and his call for peaceful engagement place him firmly among the leaders worth watching as Migori prepares for the next chapter.

By Anderson Ojwang

The sky was blue and pregnant. It waited for the guests to arrive and settle before it finally opened the gates. The droplets were significant and spoke volumes.

The clouds opened its doors after the leaders had converged in Kitale for the 23rd anniversary of the country’s eighth vice president, the late Wamalwa Kijana.

The rains were symbolic in context, a sign of happiness and overwhelmed spirits of the Wamalwa family welcoming the guests to his graveyard and the book launch.

The convergence was coincidental and ironic in nature and indeed. It brought together the casualties of the 2002 Narc wave, former President Uhuru Kenyatta, and the victors Charity Ngilu, Kalonzo Musyoka and Martha Karua.

Also in the train were opposition leaders JB Muturi, the host Eugene Wamalwa and Dr Fred Matiang’i, among others.

Flashback

Former President Uhuru revisited the 2002 wave which swept the party of independence, Kanu, from leadership.

The wave also occasioned him and then President Daniel Arap Moi loss at the presidential election to the Narc presidential candidate, the late Mwai Kibaki, and his running mate Wamalwa.

“We were in Kanu with Moi and we had planned and plotted to win the election in 2002. I had even invited and requested Wamalwa to join and work with me. But the wave was so strong and we lost,” he said.

Uhuru tried to persuade Wamalwa to join him but he declined, and they eventually rode to victory.

“Wamalwa told me he was in the other formation. He didn’t steal for me the secret of how they would come back powerful at the ballot.

“My people, it was a wave that swept us with Moi and we were told to go home and relax. I gladly accepted the people’s verdict,” he said.

He said despite the loss to Narc, there was no enmity between the leaders as they worked for the benefit of the country.

“They took over the leadership and led the country. We did not have any form of enmity. I was the leader of the opposition and he was a leader in the government.

“Wamalwa was a gentleman. We were in two different political formations. Our political formations did not breed enmity,” he said.

“Let’s not forget that Wamalwa, with Ngilu and Karua among others, sacrificed for the democracy of the country, and Kenyans must be allowed to elect a leader of their choice,” he said.

Uhuru criticised the move to lock some leaders from other regions, terming it as retrogressive and a negation of the gains achieved so far.

“Nobody can remove that sacrifice from the people. Sell your policies, stop preventing others from holding their rallies. That takes Kenya backward. Seek for your votes; the electorate will give or deny you,” he said.

I am not a sponsor

Uhuru denied sponsoring the opposition against his former deputy President William Ruto.

“I don’t want to be called a sponsor. I do not want issues. I have said it is the people to decide. There is no reason to force Kenyans to vote for you. Kenyans will elect their own leaders. I want to request the political leaders to seek votes peacefully,” he said.

A section of broad-based MPs and governors have been critical of Uhuru over what they claimed as sponsoring the opposition against Ruto in the next year’s general elections.

“Even I at one time sought for the votes and I was denied, and on the second trial I was given. I am not politicking. I am not interested in any seat. I thank God for the time I have been in leadership, and I thank Kenyans for giving me the opportunity,” Uhuru said.

Revisit

Ngilu was more categorical on the 2002 winning blueprint and committed to employing it to ensure opposition victory.

“In 2002, there was a fallout in Kanu, and the leaders – the late Raila Odinga, the late George Saitoti, Moody Awori and Kalonzo – joined us and created a wave,” she said.

Ngilu said the Narc wave sent Kanu home and that it was time it was revisited and applied against Ruto.

She appealed to Uhuru to support the opposition outfit to send President Ruto home.

“Now brother Uhuru, you are in the field. Kindly join us to liberate the country. It is going to be tough for all of us,” she said.

Ngilu volunteered to lead the actualisation of the 2002 opposition unity blueprint to field a single candidate against Ruto.

“I want to give myself some responsibilities today to revisit the 2002 blueprint so that we can bring together all the opposition leaders together and agree on a single presidential candidate.

“Will you give us the opportunity to undertake that?” she said.

Kalonzo said he was in the team that defeated Uhuru and Kanu and was committed to employing the script.

“I was in the team that made Uhuru Kenyatta the surviving victim. It is time that within the 361 days to elections, we take Ruto home. Uhuru is free to speak without being criticised. We are ready to form a team to take Ruto home. We will remain committed,” he said.

Wake-up call

For President Ruto, a chance of a 2002 political unity blueprint is a walking nightmare to his re-election.

The events at Wamalwa’s 23rd anniversary should be a worry and a possible build-up to opposition unity. Time may not be on his side to counter the move.

By Anderson Ojwang

East or West, home is the best. And that is the narrative currently finding its way in Mt Kenya as the two leading regional leaders, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and the immediate former Rigathi Gachagua, feud.

It is a bare-knuckle fight as Kindiki, with Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku, have embarked on a move to decolonise the East from decades of marginalisation from Mt Kenya West.

Ruku wrote: “Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta had money to fund Thika Superhighway and dual carriage from Kenol to Marwa plus Mau Mau roads in Mt Kenya West.

“But there was NO MONEY to fund NITHI BRIDGE in Mt Kenya East. The only person who found money to fund Nithi Bridge is William Ruto.

“This hypocrisy is what we are ending once and for all come 2027 August as MT KENYA EAST. We’re not babies – we have come of age as a people,” he said.

Ruku said Mt Kenya East should pursue its political course without any form of interference from any quarters.

“Political unity should not come at the expense of development, and the interests of our people should take priority over maintaining a united political bloc.

“Mt Kenya East should be willing to pursue a separate political path if doing so will improve our chances of securing development projects and greater representation in government,” he said.

Ruku said Mt Kenya East was concerned with politics of development and not rhetoric.

“If splitting the mountain will get Mt Kenya East electricity, then let it be so. If splitting the mountain will see Mt Kenya East get tarmac roads, let it be so!

“A split is necessary if it enhances the prospects of Deputy President Kithure Kindiki succeeding President William Ruto as President in 2032.

“If that is what the Mt Kenya West push us to do…then wacha ipasuke!” he said.

And the call has caused panic in former Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria, who wrote: “There is something mysterious with the Pasua Movement from Mt Kenya East. What is it you expect from Kikuyus? What is your ask? And do not tell me it’s about the Deputy President position because we cannot force a Presidential candidate on whom to pick as a running mate. Currently we have one in office and we fully support him. The choice of the next one is not in our hands. That decision is above our pay grade. Cut us some slack, please.”

The Elders Assembly

Recently, the Mt Kenya East congregated to charter a new path for the region with Deputy President Kithure Kindiki.

The section of the council of elders from Mt Kenya East backed President William Ruto and Kindiki’s re-election bid and called for unity across the Mt Kenya region ahead of the next election.

“We respectfully call upon our brothers and sisters in Mt Kenya West, including those living in the diaspora, to recognise the historic moment before us and to extend to Deputy President Kithure Kindiki the same spirit of solidarity, loyalty and brotherhood that Mt Kenya East has historically extended to leaders from Mount Kenya West,” they said.

The leaders also endorsed DP Kindiki as the community’s spokesperson, saying he is the only one authorised to speak for and on behalf of the region.

“Any individual, leader or community seeking to engage the people of Mt Kenya on any matter, including politics, shall do so through Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, as the duly recognised national leader through whom the people of Mt Kenya East shall engage on matters affecting the political and development future of the Mountain,” they said.

But the move rattled Gachagua and a section of elders who condemned it as a plot to split the mountain.

The official Embu Council of Elders, known as Nyagi ya Ndiriri, rejected a recent gathering at Nembure Stadium where a group of elders named Deputy President Kithure Kindiki as the political spokesman for the area.

Council chairman Andrew Ireri said those who attended the meeting were not legitimate members of the official council and therefore had no mandate to make political decisions or speak on behalf of the Embu community.

Final

But Kindiki responded by terming the declaration as final and irreversible.

“In pre-colonial and colonial Kenya, Nembure is where all disputes were settled with finality among the Aembu people.

“Decisions made at Nembure were final with no right of appeal.

“Source: Kiama Kia Muembu & Nyangi Ndiriri elders,” he wrote.

Kindiki said he honoured the summons by Mt Kenya East Council of Elders comprising Njuri Ncheke, Nyangi Ndiriri, Ngome, Kiama kia Muembu and Kiama kia Ma from Isiolo, Meru, Tharaka Nithi, Embu and Mwea.

“We have resolved to advance the promotion of community and national unity, defend Kenya’s national interest and support all interventions that anchor Kenya’s development into the future.

“A solemn assembly of more than 30,000 elders has resolved to resist divisive leadership and support the ideals that promote respect for diversity, inclusion and national unity,” he said.

But Gachagua accused President Ruto of attempting to divide the Mt Kenya region by using Kindiki to create a political split between Mt Kenya East and Mt Kenya West.

Speaking at Manyatta Market in Embu County on Saturday, Gachagua said the alleged strategy was aimed at weakening the region by creating divisions between communities in the eastern and western parts of Mt Kenya.

Gachagua said despite efforts to divide the region, it would vote as a bloc to remove the Kenya Kwanza government during the 2027 elections.

Ruku said after 64 years of oppression and marginalisation of Mt Kenya East in the hands of Mt Kenya West Presidents and Vice Presidents, Mt Kenya East has come of age to move on from the abusive and toxic relationship.

“We will marry whoever we want, whenever we want and on our own terms and conditions. But by all means, it’s time to cut ties with our abusive and toxic political partners,” he wrote.

The voice

Kindiki expressed concern over constant imitation of his voice by Gachagua to disparage him.

“Talking about my voice is the only contribution your emptiness and incompetence can make in matters politics, policy and leadership.

“A disgraceful exit from public service as a DO, a most unremarkable WANTAM as Mathira MP, and your wasted two years as Deputy President seems not to have made any impact on your deplorable behaviour,” he wrote.

Not the same

Mt Kenya politics will never be the same, and the age-old unity is now under threat. East may walk their way as West will try to forestall the fallout.