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Kalonzo Musyoka’s Ukambani Stronghold under Siege from Ruto’s Camp as Alternative Voices Emerge

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  • Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka is working to strengthen his influence in the Ukambani region as he prepares for a possible presidential bid in 2027.
  • However, President William Ruto’s allies have increasingly stepped up political activity in the region, with several leaders openly backing his re-election bid.
  • Kalonzo may face new political challenges in his traditional stronghold unless he unites regional leaders and consolidates support.

Wiper Democratic Movement leader and former vice president Kalonzo Musyoka is working to consolidate the Ukambani voting bloc as he prepares for the 2027 General Election.

Kalonzo has long been credited with mobilising significant support from the region. His influence was evident when he ran as running mate to former prime minister Raila Odinga in the 2013 and 2017 elections, and again in 2022 when he backed the veteran opposition leader’s presidential bid.

The Wiper leader has repeatedly hinted that he will run for president in 2027, even as he collaborates with other politicians in the United Alternative Government alliance seeking to challenge President William Ruto.

Is Ruto covering ground in Ukambani ahead of 2027?

However, Kalonzo’s political backyard has recently witnessed increased activity from leaders allied to Ruto. Leaders from Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) have been making inroads in Ukambani, consolidating allies in the perceived Kalonzo backyard.

Recently, Mwengi Mutuse, the Kibwezi MP who gained national attention for sponsoring the impeachment motion against former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, led a group of Ukambani leaders affiliated with Maendeleo Chap Chap to meet the president at State House.

The meeting, described as a development-focused visit, added to a growing number of political figures from the region expressing support for Ruto and his United Democratic Alliance party.

Ukambani leaders supporting Ruto’s re-election.

Among those already backing the president’s re-election in the region are Labour Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua, former Tourism CS Peninah Malonza, former Nairobi deputy governor Jonathan Mueke, former Machakos senator Johnstone Muthama and Kitui East MP Nimrod Mbai.

Mwala MP Vincent Kawaya, who also serves as the UDA national organising secretary, has openly criticised Kalonzo’s presidential ambitions and urged him to join the president’s camp.

Political tension in the region also surfaced when Kitui County Assembly Speaker Kevin Kinengo organised a meeting between Wiper-aligned MCAs and the president at State House, raising questions about shifting loyalties in the region.

Political analyst Paul Mwangagi said Kalonzo’s presidential ambitions could face challenges unless he manages to unite leaders from the region and maintain his political influence.

Is National Liberal Party a different option in Ukambani?

Meanwhile, alternative political voices are emerging in the region. The National Liberal Party (NLP) has positioned itself as a different option in Ukambani politics.

Its leader Augustus Muli previously told TUKO.co.ke that the party, which became the first in Africa to join the International Alliance of Libertarian Parties, aims to provide a new direction beyond the rivalry among mainstream political parties.

“Kalonzo must be strategic and court like-minded voices, alternative voices and even his former allies now in UDA to build his stronghold. It’s not time to threaten party members associating with rivals but an opportunity to put aside differences and consolidate his home voting bloc,” Mwangagi explained.

The debate comes amid calls from some leaders in Ukambani urging Kalonzo to distance himself from Gachagua as he positions himself for the 2027 presidential race.

How many members has NLP recruited in Ukambani?

TUKO.co.ke previously reported that NLP had registered about 200,000 members in the Ukambani region by January, including around 130,000 from Kitui county.

Nationally, the party’s membership is approaching the 500,000 mark as it continues expanding across different regions.

The party’s growth has been linked to its ideological messaging, youth-focused branding and grassroots mobilisation campaigns.

These strategies have helped the party gain traction in Ukambani, an area traditionally viewed as the political stronghold of Kalonzo Musyoka.

The party leader’s influence also grew after he was installed as an Anzauni clan leader by the Akamba Clan Governing Council of Elders in February 2024-TUKO.

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National Assembly dismisses claims Sacco Bill is being rushed through Parliament

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The National Assembly has dismissed reports that the Sacco Societies (Amendment) Bill, 2025, is being rushed through Parliament, saying the proposed law is still undergoing public participation.

Through infographics shared on Facebook on Tuesday, July 14, 2026, Parliament said misleading information had been circulating online about the Bill, formally known as the Sacco Societies (Amendment) Bill, National Assembly Bill No. 32 of 2025.

Bill was published in June 2025

The National Assembly said the Bill was published on June 30, 2025, and had remained under consideration for more than 12 months.

It rejected suggestions that lawmakers were fast-tracking the proposed amendments without allowing enough time for scrutiny.

According to Parliament, the lengthy period between the publication of the Bill and its current consideration shows that it is not being rushed.

Bill currently before the National Assembly committee

The Sacco Societies Amendment Bill is currently before the National Assembly’s Departmental Committee on Trade, Industry and Cooperatives.

The committee is conducting public participation and receiving views from members of the public and other stakeholders.

The submissions are expected to help the committee assess the proposed amendments before presenting its recommendations to the National Assembly.

What happens after public participation?

After the public participation process is concluded, the committee will prepare a report containing its findings and recommendations.

Parliament said the views submitted by members of the public and stakeholders could inform further amendments to the Bill.

The proposed legislation will then proceed to the National Assembly for consideration by MPs.

This means the Bill has not yet completed the legislative process and could still be amended based on the submissions received during public participation.

Bill will be forwarded to Senate

The National Assembly also clarified that the Bill will not proceed directly for presidential assent after being passed by MPs.

Because the proposed legislation concerns county governments, it will be forwarded to the Senate for consideration in accordance with the Constitution.

The Senate will be required to consider the Bill before it can complete the parliamentary process and be presented for presidential assent.

Parliament urged members of the public to rely on verified information about the Sacco Societies Amendment Bill instead of unconfirmed reports circulating online-PeopleDaily.Digital.

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Digital house-hunting platform bets on technology to reshape Nairobi’s rental market

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NAIROBI, Kenya, July 14 – A growing shift towards digital property searches is changing how Kenyans find rental homes, with real estate technology platform Reemio positioning itself as a solution to longstanding challenges.

This included fraudulent listings, costly house searches and limited market transparency.

As younger, tech-savvy consumers turn to online platforms to make purchasing decisions, the company says digitizing the rental process could improve efficiency for both tenants and landlords while lowering transaction costs.

“Our niche is to solve the problem of house hunting and also bring trust into that process. We use technology to connect renters and landlords,” said Kimani.

Kimani said the platform seeks to address inefficiencies that have traditionally made house hunting expensive and time-consuming.

Instead of physically visiting multiple properties, users can browse verified listings, take virtual tours, compare amenities and access information on additional costs such as water charges, electricity bills and service fees before scheduling physical viewings.

Beyond improving convenience for tenants, Reemio argues that technology can help landlords reduce marketing costs, shorten vacancy periods and reach a wider pool of prospective tenants, including Kenyans living abroad.

The company says its platform also generates market data that can help property owners and developers better understand evolving consumer preferences, although its long-term impact will depend on wider adoption of digital property platforms and continued investment in trustworthy online real estate marketplaces-Capitalfm.co.ke.

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ORPP edges two parties closer to joining Kenya’s political arena

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The Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) has issued a notice for the provisional registration of two proposed political parties, opening a seven-day window for members of the public to lodge objections.

In a notice published by the Registrar of Political Parties and Chief Executive Officer J.C. Lorionokou, the ORPP announced that the Social Democratic Party of Kenya (SDP) and the People’s Alternative Voice (PAV) are in the process of being provisionally registered under Section 5(2)(a) of the Political Parties Act.

The ORPP, a State office established under Section 33 of the Political Parties Act and Article 260 of the Constitution, said its mandate includes registering and regulating political parties as well as administering the Political Parties Fund.

According to the notice, the Social Democratic Party of Kenya (SDP) has adopted pink, white and sky blue as its official party colours, with the slogan “Change – Mageuzi.” The party’s symbol is the acronym SDP enclosed inside a circle.

The party’s listed founder members are Nyangong’ Duncan Nyumbah, Omwandasi Jared Dishon and Kinyua Mary Wacuka.

The founders of PAV are listed as Odenyo John Fitzgerald Elly, Nyando Rachel Mmboga and Ali Hussein Kiplangat.

The Registrar said particulars of the two proposed political parties have been published on the ORPP website to facilitate public scrutiny as required by law.

Any person wishing to oppose the provisional registration of either party has seven days from the date of publication of the notice to submit objections either in writing or in person to the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties at Lion Place, Fourth Floor, Waiyaki Way at Karuna Close, Nairobi.

The provisional registration marks the first step in the legal process of establishing a political party in Kenya.

Kenya has 91 fully registered political parties. The ORPP’s updated register indicates that, as of January 2026, there were 91 parties that had met the legal requirements for full registration under the Political Parties Act-STAR.

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