Wamuzi News Ke
In a surprising political development that is shaking Kenya’s political scene, Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga has loudly proclaimed his loyalty to President William Ruto and the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA), thereby directly opposing the increasing rumors of his defection to the opposing factions led by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
The declaration was made on Sunday, January 11, during a prominent church service in the Othaya Constituency, where President Ruto and top government officials were present.
Kahiga, who has recently been seen as a politically unpredictable figure, declared during his speech that he is still a completely registered member of UDA and asserted that “William Ruto is my president,” thereby rejecting the rumors that he had moved to Gachagua’s Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP).
He also indicated that the right time for governance and development has come, and the right time for early politicking has gone.
The governor’s statement comes amid a backdrop of political strains in the Mount Kenya region, where Kahiga’s criticisms of the national government—especially regarding the 2024 impeachment of Gachagua—and his occasional appearances with the former deputy have all compounded the ambiguity about his political position.
Nevertheless, Kahiga emphasized that as a governor, he has to work together with the national government and support the development agenda of the presidency.
Political observers point out that the connections between Kahiga, Ruto, and Gachagua have always been intricate and sometimes even full of friction.
After a series of public condemnations involving the leaders and Kahiga’s loud criticism regarding the suspected degradation of the region, Kahiga even stepped down from the vice-chair position of the Council of Governors, not to mention the criticism he generated through the inflammatory comments he made in 2025.
Kahiga’s Sunday announcement is interpreted as a deliberate move to silence rumors of defections in the run-up to the 2027 general elections and to secure his political relevance in the ruling coalition.
Whether this seemingly new alliance will make central Kenya political competition more or less intense remains to be seen, but it surely will be one of the major themes in the changing landscape of party politics in the country.
