Senior Counsel Ahmednasir Abdullahi has cautioned President William Ruto against misreading political signals from Mt Kenya following the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) loss in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election.
In a statement, Ahmednasir drew parallels between the recent outcome and past political strategies employed during the era of former President Daniel arap Moi.
He argued that attempts to influence voting patterns in the region through elite-driven mobilisation have historically failed, warning that similar tactics could backfire ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“Moi tried to buy Kikuyu votes in the 1990s with ‘Central Kenya Development Group’ of SK Macharia as chairman and spent billions in vain,” Ahmednasir stated.
“Ol Kalou told President Ruto not to follow the Moi manual. In Mt Kenya it's the people that show where their leaders must take them,” he added.
The Ol Kalou by-election, held on July 16, 2026, resulted in a landslide victory for Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) candidate Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru, who garnered over 85 percent of the vote.
His closest challenger, UDA’s Samuel Muchina Nyagah, trailed significantly, securing just over 13 percent.
The outcome marked a major setback for the ruling party in a region widely considered part of its political stronghold.
Reacting to the results, Ahmednasir referenced the 1990s “Central Kenya Development Group,” chaired by media proprietor SK Macharia, which he claimed was used unsuccessfully by the Moi administration to consolidate support in the region.
According to the senior counsel, the Ol Kalou vote sends a clear message that the electorate in Mt Kenya independently determines its political direction.
“Those light featherweight politicians from Kiambu telling President Ruto that Kikuyus will vote for him in 2027 are rent seekers wanting to feed on his fodder,” he said.
He further criticised a section of political leaders from Kiambu County, accusing them of misleading the President about his standing in the region.
Ahmednasir described such figures as “rent seekers,” suggesting they are driven by personal gain rather than genuine grassroots support.
The by-election outcome has triggered varied political reactions, with analysts pointing to shifting allegiances within Mt Kenya.
While UDA leaders have maintained that the party remains strong nationally, opposition figures have framed the result as an early indicator of changing voter sentiment.
As political alignments begin to take shape ahead of 2027, the Ol Kalou result is likely to intensify debate on strategy within the ruling coalition.