Country in grip of election fever two years to polls

Wiper Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka addressed locals in Sultan Hamud and Emali in Makueni county. [Photo, Standard]

Kenya is caught in an endless electioneering cycle, with both opposition and ruling coalition politicians on the campaign trail, more than two years before the next election.

In response to mounting criticism from opposition leaders, led by Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, President William Ruto and his allies have launched political tours thinly veiled as economic empowerment initiatives.

Despite the 2027 polls being two years away, President Ruto has been actively laying the groundwork for his re-election bid.

In a bid to consolidate support in the Nyanza region—where he hopes to inherit Raila Odinga’s political base—Ruto has intensified his focus there, as he seeks to compensate for waning influence in the Mt Kenya region, which overwhelmingly backed him in the 2022 General Election.

The President has made five visits to Nyanza in what appear to be campaign events, although they are officially presented as working tours. Since Gachagua’s impeachment, Ruto has increasingly concentrated his efforts in the region.

This week, in an apparent attempt to mend relations with Siaya Governor James Orengo, a staunch critic of the current political alignment, Ruto hosted a delegation from Siaya at State House. He promised a range of development projects for the region, including Sh1 billion for the development of the Usenge Pier and associated port infrastructure to boost the blue economy.

“We will also construct 16 markets in the county at a cost of Sh2.5 billion and allocate Sh1.6 billion to connect over 16,000 households to electricity to drive entrepreneurship,” Ruto said following the meeting.

On 31 May, the President toured Homa Bay and Kisumu counties, accompanied by Raila and local leaders.

During the visit, Ruto announced that 25,000 households in Homa Bay would be connected to affordable electricity by the end of the year.

Meanwhile, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has concentrated his efforts in the Mt Kenya region, promoting economic empowerment programmes. During his tours, he has announced millions of shillings in funding for projects targeting women, youth, and boda boda groups.

On the other side of the political divide, opposition leaders have ramped up their campaigns against Ruto’s administration under the “One-Term” slogan—rallying voters to deny the President a second term in 2027.

Kalonzo and Gachagua, the key figures spearheading the One-Term movement, are currently campaigning in the Coast region. Earlier, they staged a two-day blitz across Ukambani, holding roadside rallies in various towns.

The Coast tour is a strategic effort to pry the region from Raila’s grip, where he has traditionally enjoyed strong support. During the tour, opposition leaders accused Ruto of “destroying the country’s economy by raiding the pockets of Kenyans,” with particular criticism levelled at what they termed as excessive tax deductions targeting salaried workers.

“We have come here to start the journey of making Ruto a one-term President,” Gachagua said.

Kalonzo has urged Coast residents to back their alliance, promising to repeal some of Ruto’s initiatives, including the housing levy and the Social Health Insurance Fund, if they win power in 2027.

The leaders have said their current tour is only the beginning of what they say will be a bruising political contest ahead of the next elections.

Political analyst Dr Judy Makira criticised the prevailing political atmosphere, saying it has come at the expense of national priorities.

“This early electioneering has heightened political tensions, deepened polarisation, and left many citizens concerned about the neglect of socio-economic challenges in favour of political theatrics,” she observed.

Prof Gitile Naituli argued that the government should prioritise service delivery if President Ruto hopes to secure re-election.

“Ruto ought to have established his legacy projects immediately after being elected, as these would have served as the foundation for his re-election campaign. Instead, he has focused on political theatre, while incidents such as abductions have only made his case worse,” he added.