Major political parties are already facing heat over perceived favuoritism towards some of the 2027 aspirants amid escalating demand for free and fair party primaries.

Pronouncements by some top party officials, seen as direct endorsement of certain aspirants, have threatened major fall-out in some of the big outfits. Some of the parties have started witnessing defections over fears of manipulated party primaries.

Wiper Patriotic Front of former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka, Ford Kenya of Moses Wetang’ula and Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) are some of the outfits facing fierce political storm over fears by aspirants of being shortchanged at the party primaries.

The ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) of President William Ruto and Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua have also been forced to repeatedly assure aspirants of credible nominations come next year.

UDA Party Chaiperson Cecily Mbarire (centre), flanked by UDA leaders, speaks to the media at the party headquarters in Nairobi on January 21, 2026.
Photo credit: Wilfred Nyangaresi | Nation Media Group

Cases of top party officials going for nominations have also fueled the fears of some aspirants being shortchanged to secure tickets for party honchos.

In the Siaya Senate race, former Governor Cornel Rasanga has threatened to defect should the party favour its leader Oburu Oginga in the nominations. Dr Oginga has declared interest to defend his seat come 2027, placing him into a direct contest with Mr Rasanga.

Mr Rasanga made it clear that he would not step aside for anyone, including incumbent Senator, Dr Oginga.

“I don’t fear anybody. Let him come, tuonane mundu khumundu (we face off man to man). I have gone through ODM nominations before and won, but I told you that there are alternatives,” he said.

He added, “The party leader is a friend of mine and a relative. It is his right to declare that he wants to defend his seat, except that he is not honest because when he was going to contest, we had agreed that he serves one term and then leaves for me.”

Mr Musyoka is also facing a major dilemma in Machakos, where he has been accused of allegedly endorsing Governor Wavinya Ndeti for a second term.

Mavoko MP Patrick Makau is among Wiper members seeking the party ticket for the position in 2027. The MP dropped out of the race in 2022, in an alleged agreement to have Ms Ndeti run for only one term. He recently accused Mr Musyoka of reneging on the deal.

“Even though you (Kalonzo) reneged on your promise for Wavinya to go for one term, let her face me in party primaries,” Mr Makau said during a public event in Athi River.

But Machakos Deputy Governor Francis Mwangangi denied existence of such an agreement. Mr Mwangangi told Mr Makua to prepare for the party primaries, instead of engaging in sympathy-seeking antics.

“That agreement he keeps talking about does not exist. I would advise him to go on the ground and talk with people in readiness for the party primaries, instead of the sideshows,” said Mr Mwangagi.

ODM-UDA State House Meeting — President William Ruto, ODM Party Leader Oburu Oginga and members of the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) Central Management Committee and the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Steering Committee during a joint consultative meeting at State House, Nairobi, on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
Photo credit: PCS

Former State House Chief of Staff Nzioka Waita recently joined UDA after accusing Mr Musyoka of endorsing Governor Ndeti, consequently denying him a chance to contest on the ticket.

In 2022, Mr Waita contest on Chama Cha Uzalendo and emerged second in the race. Similar murmurs are also being heard in Kitui where Mr Musyoka’s close ally, Senator Enoch Wambua, has declared interest for the governor seat. Others eyeing the seat are Kitui Central MP Makali Mulu and Woman Rep Irene Kasalu.

In Ford Kenya, National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang'ula's decision to endorse former Cabinet Secretary Susan Nakhumicha as the Ford Kenya candidate for the 2027 Trans Nzoia gubernatorial race has unsettled other aspirants.

Mr Wetang'ula endorsed Ms Nakhumicha on June 21 during a meeting attended by community elders, saying she was the strongest candidate to unseat Governor George Natembeya.

"She has demonstrated the highest ability and strength to unseat Governor Natembeya and, as Ford Kenya, Kenya Kwanza and the broad-based government, she is our preferred candidate for the seat," Mr Wetang'ula said.

Possible manipulation

Former Kiminini MP Chris Wamalwa, who lost to Governor George Natembeya in 2022, has since ditched Ford Kenya for UDA.

"He wants to choose the governor for the people of Trans Nzoia. We tell him to take his political projects to Bungoma. It is the people of Trans Nzoia who will choose their governor in 2027," said Mr Wamalwa.

Similar fears of possible manipulation of primaries also played out in Migori at the weekend, when Uriri MP Mark Nyamita, openly asked ODM to ensure credible polls. Mr Nyamita seeks to unseat Governor Ochilo Ayacko.

“Here in Migori you know me and what I want to be in 2027. We are saying this and party chairperson (Gladys Wanga) is here; next year when we are going for nominations, let individuals not be imposed on us, let the people decide on who should have the party ticket,” said the MP.

“Anybody who has performed dismally and has not worked for the people should go home. The party structures should ensure the nominations are free and fair,” he said.

WhatsApp Image 2026-05-10 at 08.56.02 — Supporters and officials of the DCP party wait for the announcement of the winner of the Ol Kalou nomination at St Mary’s Catholic Church in Ol Kalou on May 9, 2026.
Photo credit: Boniface Mwangi | Nation

Dr Oginga at the weekend cautioned aspirants seeking the party’s ticket against expecting preferential treatment, insisting that the nomination process will be free, fair and transparent.

“So those who want to buy an ODM ticket, don’t bother looking for that power at the headquarters. Look for it in the membership of the party at the grassroots. That is where power lies. Power lies at the grassroots,” he said.

According to Dr Oburu, once an aspirant secures the party nomination through the established process, they automatically become the official ODM candidate. He said he will not favour any aspirants.

“I want everybody to go to the people and get their tickets directly from the people,” Dr Oburu said.

For decades, the late Mr Odinga’s simple act of raising a politician’s hand before a jubilant crowd was far more than an endorsement. It was an anointment, a powerful symbol of political legitimacy in the eyes of millions of loyal supporters.

Those who received that public blessing were rarely defeated at the ballot box.

His “hand” blurred the line between political prowess and popular blessing, and its absence is now reshaping Kenya’s political landscape.

During the 2022 General Election, Mr Odinga’s influence was formalised through direct party nominations, attracting both admiration and criticism.

In Mombasa, ODM directly handed nomination certificates to Mishi Mboko (Likoni), Badi Twalib (Jomvu), Omar Mwinyi (Changamwe), Rashid Bedzimba (Kisauni) and Masoud Machele (Mvita).

Orange Democratic Movement leaders, led by Oburu Oginga, during a political rally at Kirembe Grounds, Kisumu on May 31, 2026.
Photo credit: Alex Odhiambo | Nation Media Group

The same pattern was replicated in Nyanza. James Orengo (Siaya), Prof Anyang’ Nyong’o (Kisumu), Ochilo Ayacko (Migori) and Gladys Wanga (Homa Bay) were among those handed direct nominations without facing party contests.

Others who benefited included Opondo Kaluma (Homa Bay Town), Dr Otiende Amollo (Rarieda), Millie Odhiambo (Suba North), Dr Lilian Gogo (Rangwe) and Dr Eve Obara (Kabondo Kasipul).

These direct endorsements were widely viewed as Mr Odinga’s ultimate vote of confidence in his preferred candidates, effectively eclipsing internal party competition.

Governor Wanga – who is the party national chairperson – told the Nation that the outfit is putting in place systems to ensure credible nominations.

“Our National Elections and Coordinating Committee (formerly the National Elections Board) is looking at various models, including that of ANC of South Africa,” said Ms Wanga, adding “The idea is for our party to improve on its processes and give confidence to our members that the nominations will be free and fair.”

During the recent Mombasa retreat, ODM instructed its NECC to begin putting in place systems that will ensure free and fair party primaries. The party has ruled out issuance of direct ticket that were witnessed in previous elections.

“We task the National Elections and Coordinating Committee to device enhanced and fail-proof mechanisms for conducting free, fair, transparent and credible party nominations for all elective positions,” ODM said.

Mr Gachagua, who is on a 45-day retreat at his Wamunyoro residence in Nyeri has kept on assuring aspirants on DCP ticket of free and fair primaries.

“I was pleased to receive Kigo Njenga, an aspirant for the Gatundu North Parliamentary seat on DCP ticket. He has appraised me on the efforts he is making with his team to popularize the party and recruitment of members,” Mr Gachagua said.

“Like all other DCP aspirants across the country, I have assured him that our party will conduct free and fair nominations, the first quarter of next year,” he added.

UDA in February created ‘UDA Aspirants Forum’ and asked those seeking to run on the party ticket to register.

More than 12,000 politicians – including big names who lost in the 2022 contest and others currently serving but seeking higher positions – had by February 4 applied to run on the ruling outfit.

Data by the ruling party showed that a total 149 individuals had applied to contest for the 47 governor positions, while 279 registered to run for the available 47 senate slots.

In the Woman Representative race, a total of 323 had applied, while the 290 constituencies attracted 1372 aspirants, with the largest number of 10230 seeking for the party ticket to run for the 1450 wards spread across the country. Cumulatively, 12353 had applied by February 4.

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