The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Aspirants Forum Registration Report released on Monday has raised eyebrows, after the electorate noticed several influential figures in the Mt Kenya region were conspicuously missing from the list.
Their absence has stirred political debate, especially given that those missing are widely known as close allies of President William Ruto.
Among the notable leaders whose names did not appear in the registration report are Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire, who also serves as UDA National Chairperson; National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, who is also the Kikuyu MP; embattled Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi; and Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata.
Political observers say the omission of such senior leaders from the aspirants’ list could signal internal strategy shifts or simply reflect procedural exemptions for sitting office holders.
Kindiki moves to calm speculation
Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who also hails from the Mt Kenya region, moved to ease mounting speculation by clarifying that incumbent leaders are not required to register as aspirants at this stage.
In a statement, Kindiki said it is not mandatory for sitting UDA governors, senators, Members of Parliament or Members of County Assembly to take part in the current registration process.
At the same time, he lauded the high number of aspirants who have signed up to contest various seats on the UDA ticket in 2027.
“The number of aspirants has shot up ahead of the first United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party Aspirants Forum meeting tomorrow,” Kindiki said.
He added: “An impressive lot of 149 hopefuls for the 47 Governor seats, 279 for the 47 elected Senator seats, 323 for the 47 Woman Rep seats, 1,372 for the 290 constituency National Assembly seats, and 10,230 aspirants for 1,450 elected ward rep seats. Total 12,353 aspirants.
“No party in Kenya’s 34-year multiparty democratic history has aroused this level of interest. UDA Party is head and shoulders above all its past, present and possibly future peers.”
Efforts by Julisha.co.ke to obtain comments from the leaders whose names were missing from the list did not bear fruit, as none of them responded to queries by the time of publication.
Regional Contrast
The registration data for the 2027 General Election reveals a sharp contrast between Mt. Kenya the party’s stronghold in the Rift Valley.
While the Rift Valley has seen a surge in aspirants across all elective positions, Mt Kenya counties such as Embu, Murang’a, Laikipia, and Nyandarua have recorded minimal interest, with some regions failing to register any candidates for governor. In contrast, counties like Baringo, Kericho, and Nandi have seen high numbers of hopefuls for gubernatorial and senatorial seats.
The registration figures further highlight the differences. In counties such as Nyeri, Kirinyaga, and Meru, only a handful of aspirants have come forward, while Nakuru and Kiambu, which have more urban populations, show slightly more interest, with three aspirants each. This contrasts sharply with the Rift Valley, where multiple aspirants have emerged for key positions.
Nationally, UDA has seen 12,353 aspirants register for various positions, including 149 for governor, 279 for senate, 323 for Woman Representative, 1,372 for the National Assembly, and more than 10,000 for ward representative roles. While the party retains strong backing in its core regions, the Mt Kenya figures highlight emerging vulnerabilities.
The subdued response in Mt Kenya raises questions about UDA's ability to replicate its 2022 success in the region, particularly with shifting allegiances among local politicians.
