Cabinet secretaries, top officials plot political comeback in 2027

As the country moves closer to the 2027 General Election, there are growing signs of a fragmented government, with several Cabinet Secretaries and other senior officials appearing to shift focus to future political ambitions.

A number of Cabinet Secretaries are reportedly strategising on running for various seats in the next election.

Co-operatives Cabinet Secretary Wycliffe Oparanya, Alfred Mutua (Labour), Lee Kinyanjui (Trade) and Hassan Joho (Mining) are all said to be considering quitting government to pursue various elective positions in 2027.

National Assembly Speaker Moses Wetang’ula and President William Ruto’s aide Farouk Kibet are also reportedly eyeing new positions after the election. Wetang’ula is said to be angling for Cabinet post, while Kibet is believed to be considering a bid for the Turbo parliamentary seat.

Oparanya has recently sent mixed signals over whether he intends to remain in government. Appearing before the National Assembly Trade Committee last Thursday, the former Kakamega Governor complained that he had been reduced to “a beggar”. “I do not know if my office is recognised as one of the offices of Cabinet Secretaries in this government or not. I plead with you that I should get Sh200 million to enable my office to run,” said Oparanya.

The former ODM deputy party leader recently threatened to quit the party in a bid to unite the Luhya community and advance the interests of the Western region if his affiliation with ODM was seen as an obstacle to regional unity.

Sifuna’s popularity

Earlier this month, Oparanya joined Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi in a breakfast meeting with Luhya MPs, during which leaders reportedly discussed demanding the deputy president’s position as a condition for supporting Ruto’s re-election.

Political analyst Herman Manyora said Oparanya was likely working quietly with Ruto to contain the growing popularity of Nairobi Senator Edwin Sifuna, especially in the Western region.

“Those are not matters someone of his stature should say in public. Instead, he is supposed to present his case to the Head of Public Service and, if he does not get help, escalate it to the President,” said Manyora.

According to Wetang’ula’s allies, the Speaker is bargaining for a powerful Cabinet position amid uncertainty over his re-election as Speaker, with ODM keen to claim the post as one of the conditions for backing Ruto in next year’s election.

Wetang’ula resigned as Bungoma Senator after the 2022 election to contest for the Speaker’s position.

“I do not have any plans to contest the Bungoma Senate seat or any other county-level position in the coming General Election,” said Wetang’ula.

Wafula Wakoli, a former long-serving aide to Wetang’ula, succeeded him as Bungoma Senator in a by-election. Wetang’ula’s allies say he intends to support Wakoli’s re-election.

At the Coast, some politicians have publicly endorsed Joho for the position of deputy president under Ruto, signalling a growing regional push for top-level representation in government after the next election.

The endorsement comes as pre-election coalition negotiations between ODM and the ruling UDA party begin to take shape, with ODM expected to demand the deputy presidency in any new political arrangement.

ODM Deputy Leader and Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir said in March that the Coast region would consolidate its bargaining power by ensuring it secures the deputy presidency, with Joho as its preferred candidate.

Coast’s interests

“In 2027, the Deputy President should come from ODM and specifically from the Coast, with our preferred candidate being Hassan Joho. This is not just about politics; it is about ensuring the Coast’s interests are protected in government,” said Nassir.

Kinyanjui has also hinted strongly that he intends to recapture the Nakuru Governor’s seat, which he held between 2017 and 2022 before losing to Susan Kihika.

In a message posted on his Facebook page, the Trade Cabinet Secretary referred to the painful process of an eagle’s rebirth, which many interpreted as a signal of his political comeback.

The post described the imagery of an eagle plucking out its old feathers and breaking its beak against a rock to renew itself and gain a new lease of life.

Mutua is also said to be eyeing the Machakos Senate seat and could resign from government early next year. He is expected to revive the grassroots network that propelled him to victory in the 2013 governor race and his re-election in 2017.

The Labour Cabinet Secretary has maintained a relatively low profile since joining the Kenya Kwanza administration. In the past three years, he has also served as Foreign Affairs and Environment Cabinet Secretary.

Owalo resignation

Mutua recently came under pressure following allegations that thousands of young people lost millions of shillings while pursuing fake overseas job opportunities. He defended himself by saying false claims were being spread.

“You can accuse me of anything, but never corruption, and you can never accuse me of laziness because I work around the clock to secure jobs for the youth,” said Mutua.

Former Deputy Chief of Staff in the Office of the President Eliud Owalo left government in January, saying he intended to run for president. However, some critics have accused him of being part of a strategy by Ruto to split votes in the Nyanza region in next year’s election.

Owalo, who was among Cabinet Secretaries dropped following the Gen Z protests in 2024, defended his decision and dismissed claims that he was Ruto’s “project”.

“When I came out to support Ruto between 2019 and 2022, I did it openly. We campaigned for him and he won the presidency in 2022. It is now my turn,” said Owalo.

Moses Kuria, who resigned as Ruto’s senior economic adviser in July last year, initially appeared to distance himself from the government before emerging as one of the President’s key mobilisers in the Mt Kenya region.

Kuria proved useful during the Mbeere North by-election, where his Chama Cha Kazi party fielded a candidate, splitting votes in a manner that benefited UDA candidate Leonard Wa Muthende, who won the parliamentary seat by a narrow margin.

Kuria later dissolved his party and joined UDA and is now leading campaigns in the Ol Kalou by-election against the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.