NAIROBI, Kenya- President William Ruto appears to be revamping his political outreach in Nairobi by bringing back seasoned politicians to help spread his 2027 campaign message.
Among them is former Nairobi Women Representative Rachael Shebesh, who has now switched allegiance from former President Uhuru Kenyatta and has pledged to campaign actively for Ruto’s second term.
Shebesh, speaking alongside former nominated senator Beatrice Kwamboka during a meeting with Kisii leaders in Nairobi, emphasized the need to equip supporters with information to promote the president’s agenda under the broad-based Kenya Kwanza coalition.
“We know the game and how it is played. The ground is different,” Shebesh said.
She argued that Ruto has been unfairly judged, with more attention given to criticisms than his development achievements.
A key figure in Uhuru’s and Raila Odinga’s campaigns in the past, Shebesh said her political hiatus since the August 2022 elections allowed her to reassess the landscape.
She now believes Ruto holds a strong advantage in Nairobi.
Together with other county politicians, Shebesh has launched the UMOJA, PAMOJA initiative, aimed at engaging residents across tribal lines, focusing on the city’s youth, especially the growing Gen Z electorate.
I Know the Game! says Racheal Shebesh as she declares support for Ruto. Tutam!
The campaign will highlight the Kenya Kwanza government’s successes, while also providing a channel for citizens to voice challenges in areas such as roads, healthcare, and agriculture, with responses routed directly to government officials.
Kwamboka added that Nairobi’s Kisii community, despite its large numbers, currently lacks representation across the city’s 17 sub-counties.
She emphasized their commitment to backing Ruto while seeking key elective positions.
Shebesh concluded that the future of Nairobi politics lies in uniting citizens around development and practical governance, rather than tribal considerations, pointing to the younger generation’s rejection of ethnic-based politics as a pivotal factor in the upcoming elections.
