By James Murimi - Reporter
Kenya, 30 December 2025 - As the country edges closer to 2026, a year expected to define political alignments ahead of the 2027 General Election, leaders from the Mt Kenya region are intensifying calls for unity, with Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga urging the region to rally behind former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua as its preferred political anchor.
Speaking during an interview with a Kikuyu television station, Kahiga said 2026 would be a decisive period in which Mt Kenya must settle its internal leadership questions and present a united front in national politics.
He warned that failure to do so could see the vote-rich region lose its influence at the negotiating table as alliances begin to crystallize.
“As we head into 2026, this is the year Mt Kenya must organize itself,” Kahiga said. “We want all political parties in the region to rally behind the leadership of Rigathi Gachagua so that we move together as a focused team.”
The governor stressed that unity would be critical as the region prepares to engage other political blocs ahead of the 2027 contest.
According to Kahiga, speaking with one voice in 2026 would strengthen Mt Kenya’s ability to bargain for its interests in any future coalition arrangements.
He also challenged Gachagua to take a more assertive political stance during the year, cautioning that unresolved legal and political questions surrounding his impeachment could weaken his standing if left to linger into the election year.
“2026 is the time for him to dust himself off from the shadows of impeachment,” Kahiga said. “He should conclude the court processes early enough so that by the time we get to 2027, there are no lingering questions about his leadership.”
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Kahiga dismissed attempts to draw parallels between Gachagua and Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, arguing that the comparison does not reflect the political realities of the Mt Kenya region.
He maintained that while Kindiki holds office by presidential appointment, Gachagua commands broader grassroots support, having been elected by millions of voters in 2022.
“Equating Deputy President Kithure Kindiki to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is like making a comparison between death and a deep slumber. Kindiki has only one vote that belongs to President William Ruto, while Gachagua was elected by the majority of Kenyans to become the Deputy President,” Kahiga said.
“Mt Kenya understands the difference,” Kahiga said, adding that the region had already made certain political decisions long before 2026. “Even if we are yet to agree on who we will vote for in 2027, we know whom we will not support.”
The Nyeri governor further cautioned against a return to political choices that the region later regrets, warning that 2026 would be the moment for sober reflection.
He urged Mt Kenya voters and leaders to learn from past political experiences as they chart their next move.
As political temperatures begin to rise, Kahiga’s remarks underscore growing efforts by Mt Kenya leaders to use 2026 as a consolidation year, one meant to define the region’s leadership, sharpen its negotiating power, and set the tone for the high-stakes 2027 General Election.
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