Ichung’wah Reveals What Ruto Told Him About Karauri’s UDA Move

Kasarani MP Ronald Karauri has officially joined the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party to launch his bid for the Nairobi gubernatorial seat in the 2027 General Election.

National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah and UDA Secretary-General Hassan Omar welcomed Karauri at the party’s headquarters. In a statement released on Monday, November 9, 2026, Karauri explained that UDA offers the ideal political vehicle to deliver effective governance for Nairobi residents.

“Today, I take a new political step by joining the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) as I pursue my ambition to serve Nairobi as Governor in 2027,” Karauri wrote. “I looked at all the options and chose where I believe I can deliver for Nairobi.”

Platform and Critique of Sakaja Administration

Karauri highlighted the broad-based government’s “Usawa ni sawa” policy framework, pointing out that it guarantees every ward receives attention, every voice counts, and every citizen matters. Expressing confidence in his ability to unite Nairobi’s diverse population under a single vision, the lawmaker also directly criticized incumbent Governor Johnson Sakaja’s performance.

“I have served the people of Kasarani as an Independent MP, and I remain grateful for their trust,” Karauri stated. “Nairobi has not worked. We want a better Nairobi!”

Addressing the gathering, Ichung’wah revealed that President William Ruto specifically requested him to welcome the Kasarani legislator to the ruling party, forecasting a UDA victory in the capital come 2027.

“The President called me in the morning and told me that I should come and welcome Karauri to the UDA party,” Ichung’wah said. “In 2022, Nairobi was UDA, and that will be the case in 2027.”

Karauri’s political shift follows days after Governor Sakaja exited UDA to join the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), a key partner in the broad-based coalition. Sakaja cited ODM’s historical strength across Nairobi alongside the legacy of the late Raila Odinga as factors in his decision.

The battle for the UDA ticket and the wider 2027 Nairobi gubernatorial race continues to intensify, with several prominent politicians declaring their candidacies, including Embakasi East MP Babu Owino, Embakasi North MP James Gakuya, and Public Service Cabinet Secretary Geoffrey Ruku.

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