Political realignments within the ruling Kenya Kwanza coalition are accelerating as Western Kenya leaders ramp up demands for the Deputy President slot in President William Ruto’s 2027 re-election ticket.
This intensifying push from the Western bloc is set to dramatically reshape succession politics and coalition negotiations as regional factions contest for power ahead of the 2027 General elections.
The push for the Deputy President slot intensified during a high-level consultative meeting in Naivasha, which brought together key political figures, including National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetangula, Cabinet Secretary for Cooperatives and MSMEs Wycliffe Oparanya, and Governors Keneth Lusaka (Bungoma), Fernandes Barasa (Kakamega), and Wilberforce Otichillo (Vihiga).
28 MPs from the Western Parliamentary caucus were also present, arguing that the region’s massive voter base and growing loyalty to President Ruto’s administration earn them a rightful claim to the country’s second-highest office.
“The Western region is the second largest voting bloc. That is why we are demanding the running mate position from President Ruto in the 2027 General election because we have the required numbers, leadership capacity, and political goodwill to occupy that office. We are asking that as a condition for supporting Ruto”. Said Nabii Nabwera, MP, Lugari constituency.
Governor Lusaka emphasized that the region’s leaders have come together with a shared goal of securing greater influence in how the country is governed. He stressed that Western Kenya must no longer be sidelined in national affairs, a situation he attributed to the divisions that had previously weakened the region’s political voice.
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The Mt. Kenya region continues to view the Deputy President’s office as vital for maintaining its political leverage within the government. This position is increasingly contested as leaders from the Coast and other regions escalate demands for inclusivity and a greater share of power ahead of the upcoming election cycle.
