President Ruto’s Allies Target Kalonzo Musyoka’s Ukambani Stronghold as 2027 Election Maneuvering Intensifies in Kenya

President William Ruto’s UDA makes significant inroads in Ukambani. Leaders defect as Kalonzo Musyoka struggles to consolidate his base for the 2027 election.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 9, 2026, 6:59 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from TUKO.co.ke

The Siege of a Traditional Political Bastion

Wiper Democratic Movement leader Kalonzo Musyoka is currently battling to maintain his longstanding grip on the Ukambani region, a territory that has served as his primary political stronghold for decades. As the former Vice President prepares for a potential 2027 presidential bid, he finds his "backyard" increasingly infiltrated by allies of President William Ruto. The strategic importance of the Kamba vote, which Musyoka has successfully mobilized for opposition coalitions in 2013, 2017, and 2022, is now the subject of an intense tug-of-war between the United Alternative Government alliance and the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

High-Level Defections and State House Visits

The erosion of Musyoka’s influence was underscored recently when Mwengi Mutuse, the Kibwezi MP known for sponsoring the impeachment motion against former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, led a delegation of Ukambani leaders to State House. While the meeting was officially described as development-focused, it represents a growing trend of regional figures openly associating with the presidency. This shift is not isolated to national assembly members; even local governance structures are seeing fractures, evidenced by Kitui County Assembly Speaker Kevin Kinengo organizing meetings between Wiper-aligned MCAs and President Ruto.

A Growing Roster of Ruto Loyalists

The pro-Ruto camp in Ukambani is no longer a fringe movement but a formidable assembly of influential politicians. Leading the charge are Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua, former CS Peninah Malonza, and UDA National Organising Secretary Vincent Kawaya. These leaders have been vocal in their criticism of Musyoka’s presidential ambitions, with Kawaya explicitly urging the Wiper leader to abandon his solo run and join the government camp. Other key players supporting the UDA inroad include former Machakos Senator Johnstone Muthama and Kitui East MP Nimrod Mbai, who provide the grassroots organizational muscle for the President’s re-election strategy.