NAIROBI, Kenya— Political analyst Mutahi Ngunyi has urged President William Ruto to reconsider his political strategy in the Mt Kenya region following the United Democratic Alliance (UDA)’s defeat in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election.
In a post published on X, Ngunyi argued that the outcome of the Ol Kalou contest demonstrated that the President’s efforts to regain political support among Kikuyu voters had not yielded the desired results.
“Dear Ruto. NO point courting Kikuyus. You have TRIED. They have REJECTED you. Ol Kalau is the TESTAMENT,” Ngunyi wrote.
The analyst suggested that President Ruto should instead focus on strengthening political alliances in the Luo Nyanza and Western Kenya (Mulembe) regions.
“Turn to the Luo Nation and Mulembe Nation. Ol Kalau is a PAIN POINT for you,” he added.
Ngunyi further questioned whether the Ol Kalou by-election had served as a political experiment to justify a broader shift away from the President’s traditional support base in Mt Kenya.
He went on to suggest that the President dismiss the nine Cabinet ministers of Kikuyu origin, although he did not provide further explanation for the recommendation.
“OR was it an EXPERIMENT to justify discarding Kikuyus? Just do it! 9 Kikuyu ministers? FIRE them.”
The remarks come a day after Sammy Kamau Ngotho of the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) won the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election, defeating UDA candidate Samuel Muchina Nyagah in a race that had been widely viewed as an important test of political influence in the Mt Kenya region ahead of the 2027 General Election.
The by-election has generated widespread political commentary, with leaders and analysts offering differing interpretations of what the result could mean for the country’s evolving political landscape.
Neither President Ruto nor the United Democratic Alliance had publicly responded to Ngunyi’s remarks at the time of publication.