Former Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui plots 2027 political comeback

Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui. [Elvis Ogina, Standard]

The immediate former Nakuru Governor Lee Kinyanjui has triggered a flurry of speculation through a social media post, signalling a calculated political manoeuvre ahead of the 2027 General Election.

In a cryptic post on his official Facebook page on Wednesday evening, Kinyanjui, who is the current Cabinet Secretary for Investments, Trade and Industries, depicted an Eagle's rebirth.

The post detailing the painful process of an eagle's rebirth at around 40 years old attracted more than 1,000 reactions within 14 hours.

The post conveyed the imagery of a rejuvenated eagle surviving after a painful process of plucking its old feathers and knocking its beak against a stone to give itself a new lease of life for 40 years.

‎The post immediately attracted the attention of Nakuru voters, who viewed the post as an announcement that the CS was making a political comeback.

‎Although Kinyanjui has yet to formally declare his candidacy for a specific office, his sudden social media post, recent meetings with business leaders in the county, and appearances in social gathering groups have electrified local political networks.

The leader who holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Education, majoring in Literature in English, has the habit of using imagery, allegory, metaphor and other figures of speech to communicate his message, especially while indulging in controversial political issues.

Kinyanjui’s apparent tactical announcement of his intention to venture into the Nakuru gubernatorial race comes amid shifting political alliances in the county whose political trajectory and voting pattern usually mirrors the politics in the volatile Mt Kenya region.

The highly cosmopolitan county ranks third nationally after Nairobi and Kiambu counties amongst the regions with the highest number of registered voters, and has been in all electoral cycles a major vote-hunting ground for leading presidential contenders.

The Kikuyu community forms about 65 per cent of the population in the county, followed by the Kalenjin community.

There are huge populations of the Luo, the Luhya, the Maasai, the Kisii, the Turkana and the Somali communities, among others.

The former governor has been under mounting pressure from sections of his fervent supporters who have been urging him to reclaim the gubernatorial seat he lost in 2022 to Governor Susan Kihika.

Kinyanjui’s political re-awakening is anchored in his legacy as the second governor of Nakuru, who established key governance structures, elevated the town to city status, and initiated key development programmes, especially in the health sector.

The leader who ran under the Azimio banner was swept away by the strong UDA wave that hit Mt Kenya and the Rift Valley region, but continued to enjoy admiration from a cross-section of residents due to his non-confrontational approach to politics in the multi-ethnic county.

During his tenure from 2017 to 2022, his administration initiated Mega projects including the construction of Level 4 hospitals across Nakuru County, the upgrade of the 73-year-old Afraha Stadium, the rehabilitation of rural roads through the Boresha Barabara program and the upgrade of Lanet Airstrip into an international airport.

‎Political analysts point to his development achievements as Kinyanjui’s competitive advantage.

“Kinyanjui’s performance was perhaps one of the best since the advent of devolution. The first Governor Kinuthia Mbugua established governance structures, Kinyanjui initiated key development programmes and made Nakuru a city, with comprehensive street lighting, upgraded markets, and enhanced water production facilities.” Observed Joseph Omondi, the executive director of Midrift Hurinet.

“By reminding the electorate of these tangible macroeconomic milestones, Kinyanjui is effectively contrasting his institutional competence against the current administration’s performance,” Omondi said.

Kinyanjui’s new political approach represents a significant departure from standard high-level political posturing.

A close ally who served in his administration, intimately familiar with his strategy, confirmed that Kinyanjui is executing a highly localised engagement model.

“His meetings are intimate consultative forums with influential grassroots mobilizers, most in secluded places. He has recognised that electoral victories in Nakuru are fundamentally secured at the grassroots level.” Said the source, who requested not to be named so as not to be seen as betraying his boss’s trust.

The timing of Kinyanjui’s political statement portrays him as a man walking a political tight rope, considering his ministerial position in the UDA administration and the desire to appease his political base, which leans towards the opposition.

His apparent desire to plunge into elective politics 15 months before the general elections appears to place him at the centre of the highly toxic politics of Nakuru County and the rapidly changing political landscape in the region.

Political analysts are keenly following the new development, considering that Governor Susan Kihika, four days ago, held a meeting with some former allies of Mr Kinyanjui, who included his former political advisor, Ms Beatrice Nyawira.

Observers are also waiting to see how the CS will position himself in the political area in the county where Rigathi Gachagua led the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), which enjoys a huge following.

His position as the CS in President William Ruto’s administration, and participation in recent development tours of the county, dramatically amplified his visibility and signalled an openness to broad-based political alliances.

Andrew Nyabuto, a political commentator, said this deliberate alignment with the national leadership structures demonstrates a sophisticated reading of the shifting political winds.

“By appearing alongside the Head of State, Kinyanjui is passing a subtle message of his continued relevance to both the national power brokers and the local electorates assessing his political viability,” Nyabuto said.

Governor Kihika, who is equally a close ally of President Ruto and a member of the UDA, has been at loggerheads with members of the Kalenjin community over appointments and the sharing of resources, amongst other issues.

On the contrary, the Kalenjin community appears to have a soft spot for Kinyanjui, who is perceived as their favoured candidate in the gubernatorial race.

It will be interesting to see how Kinyanjui will navigate his return to county politics while balancing his association with President Ruto and the Kalenjin community and the expected reaction from the combative Kihika, who would be defending her turf.

Nakuru residents will also be watching which political party he will be using to champion his cause to enter the palatial governor's house.