Uriri Member of Parliament (MP) Mark Nyamita has dismissed claims that President William Ruto is likely to be a one-term leader, terming such assertions as misguided and lacking political grounding.

Speaking during a televised interview with a local TV station on Thursday, May 15, 2025, Nyamita argued that the emerging opposition coalition fronted by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua does not present a serious threat to President Ruto’s re-election bid.

“There’s no formidable force to remove Ruto. Gachagua is a tribalist, Martha Karua has zero influence, and if you remove Wamalwa’s name, you remain with Eugene — and we know he doesn’t represent anyone,” Nyamita said.

He further criticised recent attempts by opposition figures to unite under a new political outfit spearheaded by Gachagua, who is set to unveil a party in a ceremony expected later Thursday.

The former DP has positioned the party as a political home for Mt Kenya voters and a launchpad to challenge Ruto in 2027. However, Nyamita downplayed its significance.

Track Record

The ODM-allied MP also defended the Kenya Kwanza administration’s performance, particularly in relation to development in Nyanza and other historically marginalised regions.

“Previous governments have not done justice to our region, and that’s the truth,” Nyamita said. “Successive regimes from Kenyatta, Uhuru, and Kibaki left us with heavy debts in our factories.

It is this government that paid those debts.”

He questioned how critics could claim the Ruto administration had done nothing, noting that unlike past regimes, it had taken tangible steps to address legacy issues in parts of the country.

Nyamita’s remarks come as Gachagua prepares to officially unveil his party amid growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The new outfit, which he describes as a unifying force for Mt Kenya, is expected to become the vehicle for a broader opposition coalition seeking to challenge Ruto’s presidency.

The former deputy president has recently aligned himself with leaders including Kalonzo Musyoka, Martha Karua, Fred Matiang’i, and Eugene Wamalwa under a banner they describe as a ‘liberation front.’

However, according to Nyamita, the grouping lacks national appeal and is driven more by political survival than a coherent vision for the country.