Moses Kuria: Mount Kenya’s 6 million votes will go to one presidential candidate
By Arnold Ngure, August 20, 2025Former President William Ruto’s advisor on economic affairs, Moses Kuria, has said that the Mount Kenya vote bastion will go to a single presidential candidate in 2027.
Speaking during a TV interview on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, Kuria stated that from his conversations with residents of the region scattered across different counties, the unanimous agreement is that their vote will go towards one particular candidate.
“For the people I have talked to from my region, across several counties, they are telling me how much they are feeling under siege from the likes of Duale and Kamket. In 2027, they will put all their 6 million votes, give to one person, tell someone we have given you a gift of 6 million votes, enda ujitafutie hizo zingine na usipatie kitu, don’t give us the presidency,” Kuria said.
Mt Kenya’s political shift
The political landscape of the Mount Kenya region is undergoing a significant transformation ahead of the 2027 general elections.
Ruto’s initial stronghold in the area is facing a major challenge due to his public fallout with his former deputy, Rigathi Gachagua. Gachagua, who was impeached in October 2024, has since established the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP).
This new political outfit, positioned as a regional vehicle for discontent, is gaining traction by tapping into the widespread disillusionment with the current administration’s economic policies and unfulfilled promises.
DCP could prove to be a powerful force, potentially fracturing the Mount Kenya vote that overwhelmingly supported Ruto in 2022.
Opposition unity key
The fallout has also opened the door for the united opposition to make a play for the region’s crucial votes. Key opposition figures, including Gachagua himself, are working to form a coalition to field a single presidential candidate.
If the united opposition successfully coalesces around a single individual, it could significantly boost their chances of preventing Ruto’s re-election. The combined strength of a united opposition, coupled with the discontent in Mount Kenya, presents a formidable threat to Ruto’s bid for a second term.
However, the ability of the opposition to maintain unity and effectively channel the region’s frustrations will be a decisive factor in the 2027 elections.