By OLIVER MUSEMBI
Former Kiambu Governor James Nyoro has re-entered the gubernatorial race, setting the stage for what could be a bruising political contest as he seeks to reclaim the seat he lost to incumbent Kimani Wamatangi in the 2022 General Election.
Nyoro’s entry brings to four the number of prominent politicians and aspirants who have so far expressed interest in occupying the county’s top office in the 2027 elections.
The other contenders include Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a and businessman John Mwaura, who are also positioning themselves for the coveted seat currently held by Wamatangi, who is expected to defend his position for a second term.
Nyoro’s return is particularly significant because of his political experience, previous record in county leadership and extensive networks across Kiambu, one of the most politically influential and populous counties in the country.
His entry could also complicate Wamatangi’s re-election ambitions, especially given that the two politicians hail from Kiambu West, a region that could become an important battleground in the contest.
Nyoro comes from the Thigio area of Kikuyu Sub-county, while Wamatangi is from Kabete Sub-county. Their shared regional roots could potentially divide political support in an area that both candidates will be keen to consolidate ahead of the elections.
However, the contest is unlikely to be determined by geographical considerations alone, with the candidates expected to rely on their development records, political alliances, party structures and ability to mobilise support across the county’s 12 constituencies.
Nyoro, who served as Kiambu’s third governor from December 2019 until August 2022, is banking on his experience in county administration to convince voters that he deserves another opportunity to lead the devolved unit.
He initially entered county politics as the running mate of former Governor Ferdinand Waititu in the 2017 General Election. The two had joined forces under the United for Kiambu political formation, which successfully challenged the re-election bid of the county’s first governor, William Kabogo.
Nyoro subsequently became governor following Waititu’s impeachment, inheriting an administration that was already facing considerable political and administrative challenges.
His tenure was particularly demanding because it coincided with the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, which disrupted economic activities, strained public health systems and forced county governments across the country to redirect resources towards emergency response measures.
Despite the challenges, Nyoro says his administration used the period to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and expand access to medical services across Kiambu.
“The Covid 19 pandemic posed major challenges across the globe, but we managed to overcome in the country through the strategies that we laid out,”Nyoro said yesterday during a burial at Karai area in Kiambu.
Among the projects undertaken during his tenure were the construction and expansion of health facilities, including Ruiru Level Four Hospital, Tigoni Hospital and Githunguri Hospital.
Tigoni Hospital also served as a Covid-19 isolation centre during the pandemic, as the county sought to increase its capacity to handle patients requiring specialised care.
Nyoro says his administration also established the Kiambu Medical Stores at Ruiru Hospital to improve the distribution and management of medical supplies in county health facilities.
“I took advantage of the pandemic to expand health facilities in Kiambu. The Kiambu Medical Stores based in Ruiru Hospital is one of the projects I initiated at that time,” recalls the former governor.
Beyond healthcare, his administration embarked on road improvement programmes aimed at opening up rural areas, easing transportation and supporting economic activities.
Several roads across Juja, Ruiru, Thika, Kiambu Town, Kiambaa and Kikuyu sub-counties were upgraded to bitumen standards, according to Nyoro.
He also placed considerable emphasis on agriculture, a sector that remains central to the livelihoods of thousands of households in the county.
His administration supported farmers through the distribution of seeds and fertiliser, alongside agricultural training programmes intended to improve productivity and strengthen household incomes.
The agricultural focus was consistent with Nyoro’s professional background as an agricultural economist who had spent many years working in research, policy formulation and development programmes before entering elective politics.
He previously served as Director of the Coffee Research Foundation and held senior positions in international development organisations, including the Rockefeller Foundation, where he worked on agricultural and rural development programmes.
He also served as an adviser on agriculture to former President Mwai Kibaki, giving him experience in national policy formulation and the management of agricultural development initiatives.
His professional background could become an important selling point as he seeks to distinguish himself from his competitors, particularly in a county where agriculture, manufacturing, trade and real estate are major economic activities.
According to the 2019 Kenya Population and Housing Census, Kiambu had a population of 2.4 million people, making it one of the country’s most populous counties. Its proximity to Nairobi has also accelerated urbanisation, creating growing demand for roads, water, healthcare, housing and other essential services.
The county’s economic diversity presents the next governor with both opportunities and considerable challenges, particularly in balancing the needs of rapidly expanding urban centres with those of predominantly agricultural communities.
It is against this background that Nyoro is seeking a political comeback, this time through a different political formation from the Jubilee Party ticket on which he contested in 2022.
The former governor lost the election to Wamatangi after garnering 99,562 votes against the incumbent’s 348,371. Businessman Patrick Wainaina, popularly known as Wa Jungle, finished second with 237,361 votes, while former governor Kabogo secured 106,980 votes.
The results exposed the highly competitive nature of Kiambu politics and demonstrated the difficulty of securing the gubernatorial seat in a contest involving several influential political figures.
Nyoro is now reportedly seeking to rebuild his political fortunes under the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), associated with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Although he has not formally announced his party affiliation, he has confirmed that consultations and negotiations are underway as he prepares for the next electoral contest.
“We are having negotiations and laying out strategies. Campaigns are strategic affairs and we are slowly and definitely getting there. We shall be in the race,” Nyoro said when asked to confirm his party of choice.
He added: “Actually it is the party leader Gachagua himself who maintains that people must prove their popularity by mobilising and listening to the people. I am doing exactly that.”
His likely association with DCP could, however, place him on a collision course with Mwaura, who has also aligned himself with Gachagua’s political outfit.
Should both aspirants eventually seek the party’s gubernatorial ticket, they could face an intense battle during the nomination process, with popularity, grassroots mobilisation and loyalty to the party expected to influence the outcome.
The development could also test DCP’s ability to manage competing ambitions among its aspirants in a county where several influential politicians are seeking elective positions.
For Wamatangi, Nyoro’s return presents an additional political challenge as he seeks to consolidate his administration’s achievements and convince voters to give him a second term.
The incumbent will be required to defend his development record while addressing public concerns over service delivery, infrastructure, healthcare, employment and the management of county resources.
The presence of Alice Ng’ang’a in the race further complicates the political calculations, particularly as the Thika Town MP seeks to translate her parliamentary influence into a countywide political campaign.
With the 2027 elections approaching, Kiambu is likely to witness intense political realignments as aspirants seek to build alliances and establish their grassroots networks.
The emerging contest will also be influenced by the broader political dynamics in the Mount Kenya region, where the struggle for political influence and the formation of new alliances are expected to shape voting patterns.
For Nyoro, the immediate task will be to convince voters that his previous experience in office, particularly his record in healthcare, roads and agriculture, makes him the most suitable candidate to lead the county again.
He will also have to overcome the political setback of 2022 and demonstrate that he has rebuilt the support base necessary to mount a serious challenge.
Whether his return will split the Kiambu West vote, strengthen the opposition against Wamatangi or trigger fresh political alliances remains to be seen.
What is increasingly clear, however, is that the Kiambu gubernatorial contest is shaping up to be one of the closely watched political battles in the Mount Kenya region as the country moves towards the 2027 General Election.
