Nakuru Governor race: How the contest is shaping up

With the 2027 General Election still months away, Nakuru's gubernatorial race is steadily attracting a growing list of aspirants, setting the stage for what could be one of the county's most competitive contests.

While former Governor Lee Kinyanjui has dominated early political discussions, attention is also shifting to other hopefuls, including Eng. Evans Kimori, former National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) Chief Executive Officer Geoffrey Mwangi and Nakuru’s first Senator James Kiarie Mungai, all of whom political commentator Eng Victor Ngatia says bring different strengths and challenges to the race.

Beyond Kinyanjui, Ngatia says emerging candidates will have to convince voters that they possess both leadership capacity and political appeal.

He describes engineer Evans Kimori as energetic and visionary but says he is yet to clearly communicate what sets him apart as a potential governor.

“He’s a young man. I love his spirit and his energy, but at times I get disconnected on exactly what he wants to do as governor,” he says.

Ngatia adds that while Kimori appears capable, politics requires more than competence.

“Can people connect with you? Do they understand what you stand for? Or are we just campaigning? Politics is about resonance. Are people resonating with you?” he says.

He expresses a similar view about former NHIF CEO Mwangi, saying the former public administrator understands governance and public finance but has yet to translate that experience into political momentum.

“If you sit with him one on one, the guy is spot on. He knows what needs to be done. The only handicap is whether he can relate with the people and rally them behind his vision,” he says.

Ngatia says while every serious contender should expect their past to come under scrutiny, not every controversy carries the same political weight.

 “Scandals will always be there. Once you join politics, be ready because even those things you think people don't know will come to light,” he says.

On Kinyanjui, Ngatia opines that although his tenure in national government has attracted criticism, including over the fuel import controversy, he does not believe the issue has significantly resonated with ordinary voters.

"I don't think the people really understood what happened. The government understands exactly what his role was. If anyone is going to use it against him, it will be his political opponents rather than the ordinary voter," he says.

He adds that while the matter could resurface during campaigns, it is unlikely on its own to determine the outcome of the race.

Ngatia notes that other aspirants are equally likely to face scrutiny over past controversies, saying rivals will inevitably revisit issues that could influence public perception during campaigns.

He notes that all major contenders should expect their records to be interrogated as campaigns intensify, with political rivals likely to weaponize past controversies in an effort to influence voters.

At the end of the day, Ngatia maintains that the candidate who convinces Nakuru residents of their ability to deliver tangible results is likely to have the upper hand.

“The fact remains that people want performance. If Nakuru becomes great at the end of the day, why not?” he says.

Ngatia also points to former Nakuru Senator James Kiarie Mungai as another name that could reshape the race should he formally enter the contest.

Although he describes Mungai as a new entrant in the gubernatorial race, Ngatia notes that the former senator is no stranger to Nakuru politics, having served in the Senate between 2013 and 2017.

He notes that Mungai’s previous Senate campaign demonstrated his ability to quickly build political momentum.

“His entry into the Senate race was quite forceful because he came within three months and captured the seat. If he does the same and mounts a proper campaign, then there's a possibility because Nakuru likes new entrants,” he says.