Kitui County Assembly Speaker Kevin Kinengo has formally ditched the Wiper Democratic Movement for the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA), declaring his bid for the Kitui Senate seat in the 2027 General Election in a dramatic political announcement made before President William Ruto.
Kinengo made the declaration on Sunday during a fundraising service at ACK St. Martin’s Church in Kitui Central Constituency, where President Ruto presided over a church harambee attended by political leaders from across the region.
In an address laced with biblical symbolism, the Speaker likened his political move to choosing “the narrow path” and urged the congregation to embrace the journey alongside him.
“Let us choose the narrow path so that we may have life. We want to choose this path with you. We shall walk with you starting today,” Kinengo said.
He then announced that he was officially ending his association with Wiper and joining UDA.
“Before this congregation, I have been a member of Wiper. Today, I officially declare that I will contest the Kitui Senate seat under the UDA party. Today I am born again and I will follow this path,” he said to applause.
Kinengo’s declaration is among the most high-profile defections from Wiper in recent years in Kitui County, a region widely regarded as the political bedrock of Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
Addressing President Ruto directly, the Speaker appealed to the Head of State to enhance security in the northern parts of Kitui County, saying residents continued to face insecurity that required urgent national government intervention.
He urged the President to prioritize measures that would guarantee the safety of communities in North Kitui and protect lives and property.
Beyond his own political ambitions, Kinengo vowed to spearhead UDA’s expansion across the county ahead of the 2027 elections, expressing confidence that the ruling party would emerge as the dominant political force in the county assembly.
“We shall ensure that the majority of members elected to the Kitui County Assembly in 2027 will come from UDA,” he declared.
The announcement gives UDA a significant political boost as the party seeks to penetrate Ukambani, a region that has traditionally voted overwhelmingly for Wiper. It also signals the beginning of what is expected to be an intense battle for political influence in Kitui, with just over a year remaining before Kenyans head to the polls.
Kinengo’s defection comes amid sustained efforts by President Ruto and the Kenya Kwanza administration to broaden their support base in Eastern Kenya by recruiting influential local leaders and positioning UDA as a formidable challenger in a region long considered an opposition stronghold. The Speaker’s move is likely to reshape political alignments in Kitui as campaigns for the 2027 General Election gather momentum.
