The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) is facing fresh concerns over its future in the vote-rich Mount Kenya region and a ramping up of a blame game among top party leaders after its defeat in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election.

The once-daily routine victory of the ruling party has turned into a political reckoning that has revealed underlying tensions regarding campaign tactics, leadership, and the UDA’s position in one of its key political bastions ahead of the 2027 general election.

Sankok points to internal sabotage

The initial skirmishes broke out when East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) Member of Parliament (MP) David Sankok attributed the loss to inaction by some UDA leaders in mobilising the party, saying some had not fully contributed to the campaign.

According to the EALA lawmaker, the government’s loss was not due to its development policy but to betrayal and lack of coordination within the UDA.

His words set the tone for a public scapegoating campaign, which has since grown into a vendetta among the factions of the ruling party over who was responsible for the defeat.

Mount Kenya leaders call for political direction

The political storm has ratcheted up since a number of Mount Kenya leaders hinted that the region would soon embark on a new political trajectory after the setback.

The leaders of the region would then hold a meeting in the area to scrutinise the outcome before giving a political directive. Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi said the outcome of the Ol Kalou result had raised important lessons that could not be left unheard.

Betty Maina, Murang’a Woman Representative, said the consultations were ongoing among leaders, and Mount Kenya would soon come out with the collective political position.

The comments have raised fears that some key figures in the UDA are more worried about the decline in the party’s clout in the region as the popularity of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s team continues to rise following the overwhelming win in the recently concluded by-elections in which the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) candidate won.

Ol Kalou’s loss reignites Mount Kenya political divide

The by-election has gone beyond the blame game to highlight the growing differences between the party members in the Mount Kenya region.

The announcement by the Public Service Cabinet Secretary, Geoffrey Ruku, that Mount Kenya East was not interested in the politics of Mount Kenya West stirred fresh debate, indicating a growing political divide over who will shape the future of Mount Kenya East.

The fallout from the election has taken another twist with the comments, reflecting the UDA’s struggle with internal recriminations as well as emerging regional rivalries that could have the potential to change the political landscape in Mount Kenya before the 2027 general election.

Kindiki calls for a rethink

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki also acknowledged the importance of the defeat, conceding that UDA had to go back to the drawing board as it did not retain the Ol Kalou seat despite mounting one of its best campaigns.

These comments were a rare confession from the party’s top leadership of the need to reflect on and rethink UDA’s political approach after the by-election.

Kindiki’s declaration implies that the Ol Kalou outcome is not solely an electoral one but a political one as well.

On his part, the head of state and UDA Party leader William Ruto has noted that the Ol Kalou MP-elect should now set politics aside and concentrate on serving constituents, adding that development should remain the priority regardless of political affiliation.

The president also cautioned against divisive politics based on ethnicity or regional identity, saying leadership should never be determined by where one comes from.

“Leadership is not about where someone comes from. It is about what they can do for the people,” Ruto said.

He urged politicians to avoid rhetoric that pits communities against one another, warning that such politics threatens national cohesion.

Defining moment for UDA

Instead of burying its head in the sand, the UDA’s leadership has focused even more on the inside, and accusations of sabotage, doubts about campaign tactics and demands for a political realignment feature prominently in post-election commentaries.

David Sankok’s critique of the lack of unity in their ranks, the appeal of a new direction by Eric Wamumbi and Betty Maina, the seeming political divide between Mount Kenya East and Mount Kenya West from Geoffrey Ruku and the call by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki for the party to return to the drawing board tell the story of a ruling party facing its biggest political challenge since it came to power.

The results of the Ol Kalou by-election have been a particular setback for UDA, which was aiming to secure a parliamentary victory.

It has brought out the divisions within the government, reignited a debate on how to politically lead Mount Kenya and brought up many questions about whether the ruling party can unite the nation and rebuild trust in one of its biggest voter bases before the 2027 general election.