As the race for the 2027 General Elections begins to take shape in Nakuru East, a crowded field of aspirants is jostling for two high-stakes positions: Member of County Assembly (MCA) for Biashara Ward and Member of Parliament (MP) for Nakuru East Constituency. But this isn’t a simple popularity contest—it’s a high-wire political game shaped by public discontent, generational shifts, and the political baggage of President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration.
In Biashara Ward, the competition is intensifying.
With rising dissatisfaction over Ruto’s presidency—marred by allegations of corruption, failed economic promises, suppression of Gen Z protests, and a collapsing public service—those affiliated with UDA or seen as its sympathizers may find the road to victory treacherous. Incumbent MCA Fadhili Msuri, whose tenure is closely tied to the ruling coalition, is likely to carry the burden of unmet promises and widespread youth frustration. New entrants like Abdul Razak Ali and Kariuki Mohammed Mwinyi have an advantage here. They arrive without the political baggage and could capture the imagination of disillusioned voters craving change.
However, Saidi Musa Saidoo, a young and ambitious political broker, may find himself in a tricky position. Though a fresh face in the MCA race, his close ties to UDA and his public support for Kenya Kwanza candidates in the previous election—alongside former councillor Gibe Kassim and Asha Twaha—may undermine his attempts to present himself as a break from the past. With Gen Z emerging as a vocal and mobilized voting bloc, candidates like Saidi Musa Saidoo must now answer difficult questions about where they stood when the youth were tear-gassed and silenced.
With Gen Z emerging as a vocal and mobilized voting bloc, 2027 MCA candidates like Saidi Musa Saidoo must now answer difficult questions
Meanwhile, at the parliamentary level, the contest is wide open but no less complex. David Gikaria, the current MP, is rumored to be eyeing a senatorial run. But his close association with UDA and his unimpressive track record in delivering development or effectively representing Nakuru East may cost him dearly. Voters are no longer swayed by slogans—they demand accountability, innovation, and integrity. Gikaria, seen as emblematic of an old guard that failed to adapt, may struggle to survive the coming political storm.
The real wildcard in this political chessboard is Zachariah Mwangi Njeru, former Cabinet Secretary for Lands, Public Works, Housing and Urban Development under President Ruto. Though he served in the very administration now facing fierce backlash, Njeru’s charisma, technocratic acumen, and personal charm set him apart from the average political operator. Rumored to be considering a run for either MP or Senator, he presents a compelling blend of experience and electability. If he can convincingly distance himself from Ruto’s failures and frame his ministerial tenure as one of independent achievement, he might just outmaneuver his opponents.
Zachariah Njeru’s charisma, technocratic acumen, and personal charm set him apart from the average political operator. Rumored to be considering a run for either MP or Senator,
But even for Njeru, the road is not guaranteed. The 2027 elections are shaping up to be a referendum on the Kenya Kwanza government. Voters—particularly the politically energized Gen Z—are less forgiving, more informed, and deeply skeptical of those who held power during what they perceive as one of the country’s most tumultuous periods. Campaigns will need to do more than handshakes and promises; they must offer accountability, vision, and a bold plan for the future.
In Nakuru East, the tide is turning. Biashara Ward is no longer the playground of recycled politicians or unchallenged incumbents. The youth want leaders who stood with them, not those who watched from balconies or sided with the oppressor. The candidates may be many, but only those with a clear moral distance from the missteps of the Ruto era—and the courage to speak truth to power—will truly capture the people’s mandate.
