Inside Naivasha's rising political temperatures and the unfolding power shift

The arrest of Naivasha Member of Parliament Jayne Kihara on July 17, 2025 sent shockwaves through the political class in Naivasha and Nakuru County as a whole.

The legislator was later arraigned at the Milimani Law Courts, where she faced a charge of offensive conduct.

In a phone interview with Mtaa Wangu, Ms Kihara described the charges as nothing less than political persecution.

"This whole issue started after I refused to vote against the impeachment of Rigathi Gachagua, after which I was in the company of the former deputy president a few times," she says.

Some Members of the County Assembly (MCAs) from Naivasha have also been seen criticising the government on several occasions. One such legislator is Stanley Karanja, the Naivasha East MCA, who has publicly condemned the Kenya Kwanza government.

Simon Wakaba, a Naivasha resident, says that, since Ms Kihara's arrest last week, tensions have been running high, with many anti-government figures being summoned by the DCI.

"This week, the Viwandani MCA, Mwangi Muraya, was summoned by the DCI, as was I, to answer questions relating to the June 25 protests," Mr Wakaba says.

Additionally, the fact that Naivasha is one of the largest voting blocks in Nakuru County has not escaped the attention of those who want to stand for different positions.

"The political elite, especially those who want to stand for political office in Nakuru, have a special interest in Naivasha. It is a cosmopolitan area with one of the largest electorates in the county, so everyone will present themselves as the most viable candidate," he says.

Benson Macharia, the Nakuru-based chairperson of Friends of Devolution, agrees with Simon, saying that Naivasha is a huge determinant when it comes to deciding political seats in the county.

“We see Geoffrey Mwangi and Peter Mbae frequently visiting Naivasha and holding consultative meetings with residents at grassroots level. They know how important this constituency is in terms of voting,” he notes.

Mr Macharia says all this has contributed to a political shift in the area.

"If you look closely, you will notice that most, if not all, of the leaders from Naivasha are not defending the government. Some are still undecided, while others have openly criticised the government," he says.

He further states: "Most of the leaders from this region have learnt from past experiences, so if you see them acting in a particular manner, it is because they have seen something that is making them do so. Jayne Kihara, for example, is a political heavyweight in Naivasha, so when she sides with Rigathi Gachagua, it sends a message to the other leaders in the region.”

According to the Independent Electoral Boundaries Commission website, Naivasha had 157,128 registered voters in 2022, making it the sub-county with the highest number of registered voters in Nakuru County.

During the 2022 general elections, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) won the majority of positions in the sub-county in the famous 'UDA wave'. At the time, the region was regarded as a Jubilee Party stronghold.