Karua, Mbarire and Sabina: The three Mt Kenya political tigresses shaping 2027

As big political formations in the country start showing signs of focusing on 2027 General Election, three women have become centre of interest as Mt Kenya influencers.

They are Narc-Kenya party leader Martha Karua, Cecily Mbarire who is the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) chairperson and aspiring Jubilee Party leader, Sabina Chege.

The three(3) have started showing signs of flexing their muscles and angling themselves to play a pivotal role as they build alliances.

Ms Chege and Ms Karua have since declared interest in the presidency.

“I am not settling for anything less, but ultimate glory and I can as well surprise you by emerging the first woman president in the country,” Ms Chege told AVDelta News.

Ms Chege said she is focusing on ultimate end of court cases in the Jubilee Party where she is battling for its control with former President Uhuru Kenyatta, to revisit its lost sparkle nationally.

“I am seeking to correct the mistakes that our former party leader—Mr Kenyatta—did by surrendering our 2017-2022 might to outside forces. The UDA ate our market share and the small space we retained was pawned to Azimio La Umoja-One Kenya by him,” she said.

She said “of importance so far is to ensure that I lead a consultative and corroborative mission that will bid for 2027 power in most of the ballots in contest”.

In her camp, she has a discreet support of Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua who in his visit to Murang’a County on July 21, 2024, said “we are supporting this wonderful woman in her bid to rebuild our former Jubilee Party.”

We are also praying for her as she wrestles for its steering wheel with Mr Kenyatta—and she must win that tussle,” Mr Gachagua said.

Former Gatanga MP Nduati Ngugi said she--Sabina Chege--is a woman of promise and she is some force that cannot be ignored “though in her bidding she should aspire to unite the Mountain”.

“There are many ways of achieving beautiful political goals without necessarily hammering Mr Kenyatta and his allies since politics should never be used to advance enmity,” Mr Ngugi said.

Ms Karua appears all set to be a pacesetter on how the country will arrive at the 2027 General Election and she has since announced that she is readying to contest the ultimate power for a second time after she flopped in 2013.

She is seen packaging herself as a defender of constitutionalism where she says she is opposed to any constitutional amendments being proposed and widely seen as an Azimio and Kenya Kwanza Alliance dalliance that has resulted in the so called ‘broad-based’ government.

“We might have differing opinions on many issues including the validity of Kenya Kwanza Alliance government… How it is ruling this country and acceptability of its authority over us. But at all times we must remain united for our constitutionalism…the sanctity of our Constitution and repel all designs to mutilate it,” Ms Karua said.

Ms Karua who was the Azimio running mate to Raila Odinga during the August 9, 2022, General Election, said “we can joke with anything else but not the Constitution that we promulgated in 2010 and we are yet to implement it fully to start talking of amending it”.

Already, President William Ruto and opposition chief Mr Odinga appear to be agreeing to take the country to a referendum to seal political compromises arising from the recently concluded National Dialogue Committee.

Political analyst who is Kigumo Constituency politician Mr Zack Kinuthia said “this independence of Ms Karua is the thrust we need to sanitise our politics where even in our divergent views we should always instinctively spot and identify with causes that are for the common good like she does”.

Mr Kinuthia said Ms Karua is currently the representative of the alternative political doctrine in Mt Kenya and is the bridge on behalf of many others in linking the region with the rest of the country.

In her camp has the tacit support of Mr Kenyatta who has since confessed that he was instrumental in having her picked as Mr Odinga’s running mate.

Former Murang’a Governor Mwangi Wa Iria said “Ms Karua, just like we advocate for in our Usawa Kwa Wote political party, is among the solid rocks of our politics who also is a presidential material like me”. 

“By virtue that she contested in 2013, she can be taken seriously in a pen full of political sycophants and short sightedness where individual gain carries the day,” Mr Wa Iria said.

For Ms Mbarire, being the chair of the ruling party and also Embu Governor gives her some political muscle.

Tasked with negotiating for cessation of Azimio anti-government programmes in the country at the dialogue committee, she is seen as President Ruto's 'public address system'.

 “We have a country to stabilise, build and prosper… That can only be realised in an atmosphere of peace, love and unity. We are called upon to ensure that we manage our people across political divides to exert positive political energies and that is why we are at the dialogue table,” Ms Mbarire told AVDelta News.

However, she said that the leading pillar in all engagements is respect for institutions and democratic processes “given that political maturity is also a key component of our vision 2030 goals”.

She said she remains strongly grounded in helping President Ruto achieve his goals, build his rule legacies as well as entrench political respects and tolerance in both win and defeat after political contests.

“We will be recruiting party members and installing party officials across the country. I am leading a national party currently tasked with turning around a dilapidated economy and deliver the ambitious promises we made. I have no time for negative energies and I am for building a strong party that will unite the country,” she said.

Ms Mbarire has the ‘deep state’ and the system by her side and as she steers the party towards 2027, she quips: “We prevailed against all odds in the August 9, 2022, General Election when we were being fought from all corners…We will not fight anyone in our journey to 2027 and it is my business to make our cruise into a second term as effortless possible”.

AVDelta News was tipped that State House functionaries are also eyeing incorporating Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru into the UDA party leadership.

“As a governor with brilliant ideas and of great political tact, we are very keen in bringing her into the apex of President Ruto politics given that she will not be defending her seat in 2027 after serving her two constitution limited terms,” said the State House orderly.

The source suggested that the party might be handed to Ms Waiguru to chair to give Ms Mbarire time to concentrate on her second term bid in Embu.

Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu said “these three women being from Mt Kenya share incredible political mettle that serves as an inspiration to many upcoming female leaders”.

Mr Nyutu added that despite the fact that "Ms Karua is our opponent, Ms Chege is a foe turned friend and Ms Mbarire is our chair, all are Mt Kenya pride".

He said women should also be encouraged to exercise their democratic ambitions without hindrances saying should they also be given space and even playing ground, they can seize state power in an election.

“Those are political talents and all their political goals should converge at nationalism where whatever their individual tactics are, should seek to spread the gospel of gender parity, incubate young women for future leadership roles so as to sustain this beautiful run and seek to unite the country before, during and after the vote,” he said.