‘Ruto has no competitor in 2027’- MP Koech

Belgut MP Nelson Koech has said President William Ruto will have no serious challenger in the upcoming 2027 General Elections.
Speaking during a breakfast TV show in one of the local media houses, Koech noted that the current crop of leaders in the country is unable to unseat Ruto, citing that only Raila Odinga could have been a worthy contender.
“William Ruto has no competitor in the next General Election, save for his manifesto,” Koech said.
The remarks come amid shifting allegiances in the country which have resulted in the impeachment of Ruto’s former Deputy President Rigathi, whom he jointly rode with to the presidency against a strong challenge from then-incumbent president Uhuru Kenyatta’s candidate of choice- Raila.
Securing Mt Kenya
Gachagua who has since embarked on a popularity drive in the vote-rich Mount Kenya region is expected to form alliances with leaders from far and beyond to stage a comeback seeking to oust Ruto from power in 2027.
However, former President Kenyatta’s Jubilee Party on Saturday, January 25, 2025, endorsed United Progressive Alliance’s Fred Matiang’i as its presidential candidate in the 2027 election, further complicating efforts by Gachagua to rally the mountain around a single candidate.

“We as the Jubilee Party, we have our own candidate, Matiang’i; aende wachuane na wale wengine tuhakikishe Kasongo ameenda nyumbani asubuhi na mapema. For that to happen, lazima muanze kufanya registration, musikize maneno kwa watu na hatutaki vita,” Jubilee party Secretary-General Jeremiah Kioni said.
“If we all agree to come together and vote, Ruto will not win even if he appoints Kimani Ichung’wah or Kamket as IEBC Chairperson. Lazima tukubaliane kama wakenya kwamba William Ruto na watu wake wote are very wrong people for Kenya,” he added.
Elusive Luhya unity
Ruto in January 2025, completed a week-long tour in what appeared to be an attempt to lock in the region after securing the support of former Prime Minister Raila Odinga who was his main opponent in the 2022 elections.

In a dramatic turn of events, Ruto reached out to Raila and the duo have since buried their hatchet. The president has engaged his erstwhile nemesis on the continent’s top job at the African Union Commission (AUC), where Raila will face the verdict of heads of state on February 15, 2025, when the vote is taken.
With Raila out of the picture, Ruto seems to have his strategy well in order with the inclusion of ODM’s top leadership into his government. However, Raila’s failure to clinch the AUC seat could further complicate the political arithmetic in the country.