A fresh political storm is brewing in the Mount Kenya region as former President Uhuru Kenyatta makes a bold return to the political scene, reawakening the Jubilee Party and attracting a new wave of aspirants eager to run under its banner ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Uhuru’s re-emergence has sparked excitement among Jubilee loyalists who view his leadership as a stabilizing force amid the growing divisions within the Kenya Kwanza administration. The resurgence of Jubilee is seen as a direct challenge to Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s grip on the Mt Kenya political base, a region that overwhelmingly voted for President William Ruto in 2022.
According to sources within the party, several youthful aspirants and former politicians have begun trooping back to Jubilee offices, seeking nomination opportunities as the former ruling party positions itself for a comeback. Party insiders say Uhuru’s renewed involvement signals his determination to reassert influence in regional politics and counter what he perceives as political marginalization of the Mt Kenya region within the current government.
“The people of Mt Kenya feel shortchanged. They want leadership that will speak for them, not one that only follows orders,” said a senior Jubilee official who requested anonymity.
Meanwhile, President Ruto has embarked on a four-day tour of Kalonzo Musyoka’s Eastern stronghold, seen by analysts as an effort to consolidate support in the region amid rising opposition momentum and murmurs of discontent within his coalition.
MIRACLE AT KNH: MAN WALKS AGAIN AFTER 20 YEARS
In a heartwarming story that captured national attention, Ibrahim Mungai, who had been bedridden for over two decades, walked again after a successful medical intervention at Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH). The breakthrough has been described by doctors as a “miracle of modern medicine,” highlighting the transformative power of dedicated healthcare professionals in Kenya’s public hospitals.
MUDAVADI UNDER FIRE OVER SILENCE ON ABUSE OF KENYANS ABROAD
The Standard reports that Foreign Affairs Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi is facing mounting criticism for his muted response to growing cases of harassment and abuse of Kenyans in neighbouring countries.
From the abduction of activists in Uganda to the brutal killing of a Kenyan teacher in Tanzania, many are accusing Mudavadi of being a “weak-kneed diplomat” who has failed to protect citizens abroad.
“Mudavadi is a status quo person. He would not like to rattle Uganda and Tanzania because they are our trading partners, yet the lives and property of Kenyans must take precedence over any other interests,” political analyst Martin Andati told The Standard.
Another scholar, Macharia Munene, argued that Kenya’s silence implies it “does not know what its interests are or how to protect them.”
Activists Bob Njagi and Nicholas Oyoo, who were recently abducted in Kampala, told journalists in Nairobi that they were held by a militia group acting under the instruction of Ugandan military officers.
TAIFA LEO EXCLUSIVE: HOW RAILA ACQUIRED ODM IN DANDORA
In a rare revelation, Taifa Leo reports that the first secretary-general of ODM, Jane Wangui Muringi, has lifted the lid on how Raila Odinga approached her late at night in Dandora, seeking to take over the newly registered party shortly after the 2005 constitutional referendum.
The disclosure comes as ODM prepares to celebrate 20 years since its formation, marking two decades of political dominance and transformation in Kenya’s multiparty landscape.
According to Wangui, Raila’s move to acquire the party marked the beginning of a new political era that would later define Kenya’s post-referendum politics and propel him into one of the most enduring political movements in the country’s history.