Parties face tough balancing act as loyalists, newcomers jostle for 2027 tickets

Political parties are facing a tough balancing act in accommodating the interests of sitting leaders and long-serving loyalists against those of influential newcomers and defectors seeking tickets.

From President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s Democracy for Citizens Party, Kalonzo Musyoka’s Wiper and the Jubilee Party, party bosses are publicly promising free and fair nominations, while privately grappling with how to avoid a bruising fallout from competitive primaries.

The challenge is becoming even more complicated as coalition talks and zoning arrangements begin taking shape ahead of the elections just over a year from now.

Already, several parliamentary, senatorial and gubernatorial contests are emerging as political battlegrounds pitting incumbents against ambitious new entrants.

For the new entrant DCP party, for instance, party leader Rigathi Gachagua has declared that his outfit will ensure free and fair primaries and hand tickets to the popular deserving candidates. He has added that not even his foot soldiers will get preferential treatment.

However, Gachagua has already declared former Agriculture CS Mithika Linturi as the party candidate for Meru governor. He has also announced Kirinyaga Senator Kamau Murango as his governor candidate.

In Mombasa, Gachagua also declared Mohammed Ali as his preferred candidate for governor before a compromise with Wiper.

Several constituencies in Nyeri, Murang’a, Kiambu and Kirinyaga are already witnessing silent battles between established politicians loyal to Gachagua and younger aspirants seeking to capitalise on the anti-Ruto wave in the region.

In Nyandarua, despite former MCA Kieru Wambui officially declaring his intention to contest for the Nyandarua Senate seat, the slot is, for all intents and purposes, reserved for the incumbent and new party secretary general-designate John Methu.

This is also playing out in Naivasha, Murang’a, Laikipia and Kiambu Senate slots, and MP slots for Gachagua’s allies.

Former Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu has warned that aspirants risk being sidelined regardless of their grassroots influence.

Ngunjiri, who is also a former aide of Gachagua, has argued that internal party dynamics could override local political effort.

“My free advice to those there, Gachagua is in business. Unless your personal political brand is bigger than the party locally, he’ll sell off your ticket to the highest bidder in 2027,” he said.

“Even if you are the one who literally built the party at your mashinani [grassroots].”

Meanwhile in Rift Valley counties, where UDA still enjoys dominance, new aspirants allied to the President are increasingly challenging sitting MPs accused by sections of the party base of underperforming or drifting away from the party line.

The party also faces pressure from youthful aspirants and professionals seeking to ride on the Kenya Kwanza brand into Parliament, putting sitting legislators on edge.

In Nakuru, Governor Susan Kihika is not only facing removal threats from the opposition camp but also from UDA as Hillary Kipngeno and Joseph Rotich seek to replace her on a UDA ticket.

In Wiper, Kalonzo will be struggling to balance the ambitions of Mavoko MP Patrick Makau and those of incumbent Wavinya Ndeti, who is serving her first term.

Makau has called for a free and fair nominations without the interference of the party leader and opposition principals.

The situation could worsen if the opposition settles on zoning arrangements to avoid splitting votes in key regions.

Under such a formula, some parties may be forced to forgo contests in certain counties or constituencies in favour of coalition partners, potentially locking out aspirants who have invested heavily on the ground.

Jubilee Party, despite its reduced national influence, is also dealing with pressure from former loyalists seeking a political comeback, while new entrants push for control of the party machinery in parts of Central Kenya and Nairobi.