Political battle intensifies in Ukambani as Kalonzo faces rising rivals

For years, the Wiper Party leader has dominated politics in the region, positioning himself as the community’s chief political voice at the national level. However, recent political realignments suggest that his grip on the region may be facing its most serious test yet as rival figures and parties seek to carve out their own influence ahead of the 2027 elections.

The latest signs of this shifting landscape emerged when Mwengi Mutuse, the MP for Kibwezi West, led leaders affiliated with Maendeleo Chap Chap and other community figures to State House Nairobi for a meeting with President William Ruto.

Soon after, Kevin Kinengo, the Speaker of the Kitui County Assembly and a member of Kalonzo’s Wiper Democratic Movement–Kenya, mobilised a majority of Members of the County Assembly, many aligned to Wiper, for a similar visit to State House.

These parallel engagements with the presidency have been interpreted by political observers as evidence of a growing willingness among Ukambani leaders to chart alternative political paths outside Kalonzo’s traditional orbit.

At the centre of the emerging political shift is Augustus Muli, the party leader of the National Liberation Party (NLP), who has been positioning his outfit as a rising political force in the region.

According to party officials, NLP has been steadily expanding its footprint by aggressively mobilizing at the grassroots, embedding itself in county assemblies, and defending its political space through legal battles in court. Dr Muli describes the party’s strategy as an “onslaught on unproductive leadership.”

The party now claims to have registered more than half a million members across the larger Ukambani region, an indication, analysts say, of its growing organizational strength. Its influence is also bolstered by the backing of the Anzauni clan, one of the region’s largest and most influential clans, giving the party deep cultural and community roots.

Meanwhile, several political heavyweights from the region have increasingly aligned themselves with President Ruto’s administration, further reshaping the political dynamics in Ukambani.

Among those seen charting a different path from Kalonzo include Charity Ngilu, Alfred Mutua, Johnstone Muthama, David Musila, Jonathan Mueke, Charles Nguna, Nimrod Mbai, and Penina Malonza.

Political analysts say the growing list of leaders engaging the State House signals a broader push to challenge what some describe as the monopolisation of politics in the region.

Observers also argue that while President Ruto has intensified efforts to court Ukambani leaders, Kalonzo’s response has largely centred on criticism of those engaging the government, an approach some believe could further alienate potential allies.

With the 2027 elections slowly coming into focus, the key question now is whether Kalonzo will recalibrate his strategy by forging new alliances within his political backyard or continue standing alone as rival forces consolidate influence across the region.