President William Ruto is embarking on a 2027 re-election strategy; his focus is on using the Mashujaa Day 2025 Ukambani development tour to cement his political vet ahead of the 2027 polls.
Kitui, part of the larger Ukambani region that includes Machakos and Makueni, has long been considered a Wiper Patriotic Front Party leader, Kalonzo Musyoka. But Ruto appears to be making deliberate moves to change that narrative.
In the weeks leading up to Mashujaa Day, State House operatives and Cabinet Secretaries have quietly crisscrossed the region, laying the groundwork for a series of development programmes expected to be launched during Ruto’s visit.
The Head of State is expected to launch several infrastructure projects, such as the newly constructed Ithookwe Stadium, which will host up to 10,000 people. Over 10 kilometres of roads linking Ithookwe Stadium to Kitui State Lodge are being upgraded by the Kenya Urban Roads Authority (KURA) and the Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA).
Kwasiku Migwani Mbondoni Road, recently upgraded to bitumen standards. In Kangundo, the head of state will also preside over the tarmacking of the Mwala-Kangundo.
Ithookwe Airstrip is also undergoing renovation to handle official flights and dignitaries.
But beyond development, the president is also expected to hold closed-door meetings with grassroots leaders, elders, clergy, and youth representatives. The forums are designed to bypass the traditional political gatekeepers and forge direct relationships with local communities.
Kalonzo is controlling about 2.3 million votes, and as a presidential candidate, we expect Kambas will do a 90 per cent voter turnout. This is not just about Mashujaa Day. It is about rewriting the political script in Ukambani. The President wants to show that development is not tied to politics,” political analyst Herman Manyora argues.
Kalonzo in broad-based?
This is Ruto’s major visit to the larger Ukambani since the formation of the broad-based government. The timing of the development tour, coupled with increasing engagement with local leaders, has sparked speculation of a larger political strategy targeting Kalonzo.
The Wiper boss has consistently been touted as a potential presidential candidate in 2027, and his support base in Ukambani remains a critical voting bloc.
President Ruto’s allies have not hidden their interest in bringing Kalonzo into the broad-based. In fact, Deputy President Kithure Kindiki has openly stated that conversations with Kalonzo are ongoing, both directly and through intermediaries.
“I have not given up. Kalonzo is one of us. It’s only a matter of time before he comes home,” the DP said during a past rally.
But Kalonzo, one of the bigwigs in the United Opposition, has remained adamant. He has dismissed overtures from Ruto’s camp, maintaining that his loyalty lies with the opposition and that he intends to offer a serious challenge for the presidency in 2027.
“I do not need to be in government to serve my people. I can assure you, Ukambani will not be bought with roads and water tanks,” Kalonzo said in a rally.
His rejection of the Mashujaa Day invitation to Kitui has also drawn attention. The Wiper leader claimed he saw no need to share a platform with an administration he accuses of persecuting the opposition and implementing policies, like the housing levy, that hurt ordinary Kenyans.
