Kindiki predicts Maasai’s support for Ruto after Kanchory’s switch
By Luke Oluoch, July 19, 2025Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has predicted the Maasai community will vote overwhelmingly for President William Ruto’s camp in the 2027 polls.
Speaking during an event at Kajiado on Saturday, July 19, 2025, Kindiki termed the assertion on the growing influence of UDA in the region, citing Kajiado Central MP Memusi Kanchory’s switch to the ruling party from the Orange Democratic Party (ODM).
Kanchory, a long-serving ODM-allied MP, in January 2024 announced shifting allegiance to President William Ruto and his Kenya Kwanza government.
He further declared that he would defend his seat on a UDA ticket in the coming 2027 polls, after clinching the parliamentary seat on an ODM ticket in the past three election cycles.
From ODM to UDA
“Memusi has been in Raila’s camp for a long time. Now that he has entered our team, I know you had a good reason to elect him again. I am now convinced that the Maasai vote will be in one basket, that of William Ruto and two terms,” he added.
Kanchory was also the subject of praise from Defence Cabinet Secretary Soipan Tuya, who lauded his political decision to join the ruling party.
“He (Memusi) is a courageous leader. He was in a rival camp, but because of the broad-based arrangement, we now have him in our camp,” she said.
Kanchory’s shift of allegiance back then sparked a heated row with his party, as it threatened to recall the MP alongside four others for siding with the incumbent government.
The MP, however, defended his stance, terming it as exercising his right of association.
“Our Constitution is very clear that there is freedom of association. We are done with 2022 politics, we are planning ahead. I have been elected through ODM three times. There is nothing I have gotten from ODM all that time in terms of leadership in parliament. Am I not able to lead even one committee in parliament?” he posed.
“For now we are looking at the people who want our friendship and those who want to walk with us. If you want us to go to the voters, let us go. The vote is with the citizens.”
At the time, ODM threatened to recall Kanchory alongside MPs Felix Odiwuor (Jalang’o), Elisha Odhiambo, Kisumu Senator Tom Ojienda, Bondo MP Gideon Ochanda, and their Suba South counterpart Caroli Omondi.