As political temperatures begin to rise ahead of the 2027 General Election, Embu County is shaping up to witness one of the most competitive gubernatorial contests in the Mt Kenya East region, with incumbent Governor Cecily Mbarire, former Senator Lenny Kivuti, and Manyatta Member of Parliament Gitonga Mukunji emerging as the leading contenders.

Here is an early glimpse into the race.

Mbarire seeking re-election

Governor Cecily Mbarire will be seeking re-election on the strength of her first-term development record. Since assuming office in 2022, she has consistently highlighted achievements in infrastructure, healthcare, agriculture, water projects and youth empowerment as key pillars of her administration.

Her campaign is expected to focus on continuity, arguing that ongoing projects require a second term to be fully implemented.

As the incumbent, Mbarire also enjoys the advantage of controlling the county government machinery and maintaining visibility through development initiatives across Embu.

However, she is also likely to face scrutiny over campaign promises yet to be fulfilled, the state of service delivery and public expectations after nearly five years in office.

Mbarire is the current chairperson of the ruling party, United Democratic Alliance (UDA), and is expected to defend his seat in the party with the backing of the government side, in which she is the head of the party.

Kivuti eyes political comeback

Former Governor Lenny Kivuti remains a formidable figure in Embu politics despite losing the 2022 gubernatorial race.

Having previously served as senator and member of Parliament in the county, Kivuti commands significant political experience and retains a loyal support base in several parts of the county.

A comeback bid would likely be anchored on his governance experience and promises to accelerate development if elected again.

Kivuti is seeking to run in the race on the “Mbus” party, officially known as the Devolution Empowerment Party (DEP), should he not change his political loyalty ahead of the 2027 general election.

Gitonga Mukunji represents new generation

Manyatta Member of Parliament Gitonga Mukunji is increasingly being viewed as the youthful challenger capable of reshaping Embu politics.

He was first elected in the 2022 general election, winning the Manyatta parliamentary seat and becoming part of the 13th Parliament of Kenya.

His entry into the gubernatorial race would present voters with an alternative to the county’s established political figures, appealing particularly to young voters seeking fresh leadership.

Mukunji’s greatest challenge will be translating his popularity in Manyatta Constituency into countywide support against two seasoned political heavyweights. He is aiming to rally on the popularity of the former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua’s Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) in the region

Early political contest

While the 2027 elections remain some time away, the emerging contest underscores the intense political competition already taking shape in Embu.

Political alliances, party nominations, campaign strategies and shifting voter priorities over the coming months are expected to significantly influence the race.

With an incumbent defending her seat, a former senator seeking redemption and a youthful legislator hoping to usher in a new political era, Embu is poised for a closely watched gubernatorial battle that could become one of the defining contests in the Mt. Kenya region.