President William Ruto is intensifying efforts to chip away at Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka’s dominance in Ukambani, with a strategic push built around development projects and political realignments.
A high-profile tour by the President is expected later this month, part of a broader campaign to woo voters in Machakos, Kitui, and Makueni counties home to over 1.7 million registered voters. The Kenya Kwanza administration, buoyed by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki’s recent three-week groundwork tour, is pitching itself as a credible alternative to the region’s traditional Azimio alliance.
“We’re exceeding expectations. The people see our development efforts,” said Mwala MP Vincent Musau, a key Ruto ally. Infrastructure projects such as the Kibwezi-Kitui-Mwingi Highway and the Mutomo-Mutha-Hola Road, along with flagship water initiatives like the Thwake and High Grand Falls dams, are being showcased as evidence of government goodwill.
Kenya Kwanza is banking on two possible outcomes: win over Kalonzo himself or secure a significant share of Ukambani’s vote in 2027. The administration is also targeting economic empowerment programmes, affordable housing, and local market upgrades to sway voters particularly the youth and small-scale traders.
But Wiper loyalists remain defiant. “Kalonzo is deeply entrenched in Ukambani’s political fabric,” said Kitui Central MP Makali Mulu. He dismissed government overtures as underwhelming and accused Kenya Kwanza of offering too little to cause real political shifts.
Despite Kalonzo’s grip, more than 100 MCAs many from Wiper have recently pledged support for Ruto’s administration. Local leaders, including county speakers, have also signaled openness to working with the government, citing frustration with Kalonzo’s leadership.
Still, Kalonzo and his allies are pushing back hard. “You can’t buy people with projects that are their constitutional right,” the Wiper boss declared.
As anticipation builds for Ruto’s tour, the real test will be whether tangible development can uproot decades of loyalty to Kalonzo or simply highlight the region’s enduring political divide.
