Nairobi South Member of County Assembly Waithera Chege has publicly declared her support for President William Ruto's re-election campaign on the UDA ticket in 2027. At a recent campaign rally in South B, Chege levelled criticisms at Governor Johnson Sakaja's administration, accusing him of failing to honour commitments made to voters during the 2022 election campaign.
Chege alleged that development projects within the county had been distributed unevenly, with wards whose MCAs have been critical of the Sakaja administration receiving little to no allocation. This, she claimed, had compelled the National Government to intervene and implement projects that would ordinarily fall under devolved functions.
The ward representative urged UDA to consider fronting an alternative candidate if the party intends to retain control of City Hall after the next general election. Chege's criticisms of Sakaja's administration centred on the governor's alleged poor leadership, which she said had denied Nairobians key devolved government developments.
Energy Principal Secretary Alex Wachira also addressed the South B rally, making the case for Ruto's second term. Wachira drew parallels with former Presidents Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta, both of whom served two consecutive terms, arguing that Ruto deserves the same opportunity to see through projects initiated during his current administration.
Waithaka MCA Antony Kiragu also spoke at the event, encouraging voters to assess political candidates on the basis of their policy records rather than ethnic identity. Kiragu's sentiments were echoed by Chege, who emphasized the need for voters to make informed decisions based on a candidate's track record.
Chege's endorsement of Ruto's re-election bid comes at a time when the president's administration is seeking to implement various development projects across the country. The president's office has not officially responded to Chege's comments, but sources close to the administration indicate that Ruto's team is keen to rally support from key stakeholders ahead of the 2027 elections.
The Nairobi gubernatorial race is expected to be highly competitive, with several candidates vying for the top spot. Chege's rejection of Sakaja's re-election bid is likely to add fuel to the fire, as the governor's supporters prepare to defend their leader against allegations of poor leadership and uneven development project distribution.
Key points
- Nairobi South MCA Waithera Chege supports President William Ruto's 2027 re-election bid.
- Chege criticizes Governor Johnson Sakaja's administration for uneven development project distribution.
- Energy PS Alex Wachira makes the case for Ruto's second term, citing examples of former presidents serving two consecutive terms.
