Nakuru County MPs claim political bullying from Oscar Sudi
By Elijah Cherutich, May 10, 2026A section of United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Members of Parliament from Nakuru County have accused Kapseret MP Oscar Sudi of political bullying and intimidation over efforts linked to support for Governor Susan Kihika’s re-election bid.
The dispute has exposed divisions within the ruling party in the county.
Nakuru Woman Representative Liza Chelule and Kuresoi North MP Alfred Mutai, on May 9, 2026, said Sudi had mobilised MPs from outside Nakuru to attend a series of empowerment events in the county over the past month. They said the gatherings were used to criticise leaders who had not declared support for Governor Kihika.
Mutai said there was an attempt to pressure local leaders into aligning with the governor’s re-election bid. “We have noted a systematic attempt to intimidate us into supporting Governor Kihika, and it’s being pushed by political leaders from outside,” he said. “They behave as though they were elected in two constituencies.”
He added that residents of Nakuru should be allowed to make independent political choices without outside influence, noting that external leaders may not fully understand the county’s political dynamics.
Chelule said the situation raised concerns about interference in local political processes. “What we are witnessing is very unfortunate that leaders from outside this county have made deliberate attempts to shape the politics of this county while disregarding the democratic rights of other leaders,” she said. She added that Nakuru’s cosmopolitan nature requires respect for diverse political views.
Empowerment events and political engagements
Over the past month, Sudi has led delegations of political leaders to Nakuru in efforts aimed at strengthening support for Governor Kihika, particularly within the Kalenjin community.
The first event was held in Salgaa on April 17, 2026, followed by another at Amalo Secondary School in Olenguruone on May 8, 2026. The events brought together leaders from different regions and were part of broader political mobilisation activities in the county.
The MPs said the events were also used to criticise those perceived to be opposing the governor’s re-election bid, escalating political tensions among UDA leaders in the region.
Internal divisions within UDA
The dispute is rooted in long-standing political differences among Nakuru leaders. For the past two years, Mutai, Rongai MP Paul Chebor, Kuresoi South MP Joseph Tonui, and Chelule have held differing positions on Governor Kihika’s leadership.
During the Olenguruone event, Tonui attended and publicly declared support for Kihika’s re-election bid, signalling a shift in local political alignments.
The emerging rift is seen within the broader context of internal dynamics in the ruling party ahead of the 2027 general election. Leaders have called for respect for local political autonomy and caution against actions that could deepen divisions within the county’s leadership structure.