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Nation

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Nation

Ruto faces Nyanza’s 'price' for 2027

President William Ruto addresses residents at Nyamasaria during his development tour of Kisumu County on September 14, 2026.What was billed as a show of unity ahead of President William Ruto’s four-day tour of Luo Nyanza quickly became a stage for political positioning, competing loyalties and a catalogue of demands from the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).The message from the grassroots and elected leaders appeared simple: they were ready to back the Kenya Kwanza leader for a second term in exchange for development and political consideration.But beneath the applause lay a more complicated reality of a region still searching for its political bearings one year after the death of its supremo, Raila Odinga.The leaders’ demands ranged from a 50-50 share of government to the Deputy President’s position in 2027, while others insisted that Nyanza must remain an ODM stronghold and warned President Ruto against interfering in the region’s internal political contests.President William Ruto addresses residents at Nyamasaria during his development tour of Kisumu County on September 14, 2026.A grassroots leaders meeting on Sunday provided a revealing glimpse into how the Head of State is attempting to navigate Nyanza politics in a post-Raila era, while local leaders seek to establish their own terms for the political partnership.By 6am on Sunday, more than 10,000 grassroots leaders from across Nyanza had lined up, waiting to access Kisumu State Lodge. They were later redirected to the Kisumu Shipyard area and Kisumu Port, where security had been significantly tightened.Every attendee underwent thorough security checks before being allowed into the meeting venue.President Ruto arrived around 2pm to a warm reception from thousands of supporters, many wearing a mixture of ODM and United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party branded caps and merchandise.More than 30 Members of Parliament (MPs) and three governors from the region attended. Siaya Governor James Orengo was the notable absentee, having joined the Linda Mwananchi rally in Nairobi.But once the grassroots and elected leaders took the microphone, the political temperature rose.Although there was broad agreement on supporting President Ruto’s re-election, the conditions attached to that support differed sharply, exposing the fault lines running through a region whose political order has been unsettled by the death of Raila Odinga.Dan Nyibule, speaking on behalf of the youth, used his address to push the first major political demand that Nyanza should be considered for the Deputy President’s position in the next government.“We are a region that has walked with you in this journey and therefore believe we deserve the position of the Deputy President in the next government. If there is a person you should consider for this position is your Energy Cabinet Secretary Opiyo Wandayi for the position,” said Mr Nyibule.The women’s representative offered a different proposition, arguing that women had the numbers and should therefore be considered for the running mate’s position in 2027.The succession debate was taken a step further by the CS for national treasury John Mbadi, who presented himself as the senior-most contender, citing his experience in government, Parliament, the opposition and ODM. Mr Mbadi also appeared to plant an early flag for the 2032 succession contest.National Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi addresses residents of Kisumu West Constituency during President William Ruto’s development tour of Kisumu County on September 14, 2026.“I know I have my brothers and sisters who are interested in this position too but having worked under Raila, worked as majority leader, ODM chairman, assistant minister, a CS, I can only go higher and allow me to lead the country,” said Mr Mbadi.Beyond the question of who should occupy the Deputy President’s office, ODM leaders demanded a 50-50 share of government and insisted that Nyanza must retain its identity as an ODM zone.ODM Deputy party leader Simba Arati sought to stamp his authority in the absence of his boss Dr Oburu Oginga, who is in the United Kingdom for treatment.He ordered those wearing UDA caps to lower them insisting that Nyanza’s political identity remained firmly rooted in ODM.“People of Nyanza, you are aware Raila instructed us to remain with Ruto in the broad-based government. I am asking those waving the UDA caps here to lower them down. As the Deputy party leader, I want to tell you that here in Nyanza we must remain in ODM to be respected. We have told Ruto that we also demand 50-50 sharing of government,” said Mr Arati who is Kisii governor.Mr Arati also sought to reassure aspirants that ODM would manage its own internal contest, promising a free and fair nomination process before presenting one candidate to President Ruto.Kisii Governor Simba Arati addresses residents of Kisumu West Constituency during President William Ruto’s development tour of Kisumu County on September 14, 2026.

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Nation

UDA boss Omar now backs Shahbal in fight against Mombasa zoning

United Democratic Alliance (UDA) secretary general Hassan Omar speaks to the media at the party headquarters in Nairobi on May 14, 2026. President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary-General Hassan Omar has thrown his weight behind businessman Suleiman Shahbal's decision to challenge Mombasa Governor Abdulswamad Nassir, rejecting political deals or zoning arrangements that would require aspirants to step aside and give the incumbent a clear run at a second term.Mr Omar said the choice of who should govern Mombasa must be left to voters, putting him on the same side as Mr Shahbal in opposing efforts to determine the county's next governor through negotiations among political leaders.Mr Omar said every politician should go back to the people, speak to them and show them their track record.The former human rights defender said there should be no stepping aside and no political agreements.“Any negotiations or decisions to step aside should happen on the ground, with the voters. I am also a resident of Mombasa seeking elective office. I have my own views. In my view, when it comes to leadership and governance in Mombasa, there has been no administration that has failed as much as the current governor’s,” he said.Mr Omar also rejected the suggestion that political leaders should determine who contests the gubernatorial seat.“So, I will not help him with votes; I may not even vote for him. That is why we are saying there should be no zoning. When I said there should be no zoning, he said he would go and speak to my bosses. I do not know which bosses he was referring to. These people here are our bosses. Let him come and speak to our bosses. Our bosses are the voters, and you are the ones who will decide whether you want this person or that person,” he said.He said other aspirants had also been asked to make way for rivals but had refused to leave the race.“Someone else was also told recently to step aside. Everyone has their own opinion. Others were told to make way, but they have said they are still in the race because everyone has their own challenges and everyone wants to change Mombasa. We know that Mombasa has decided that the person currently in office will be a one-term governor. Mombasa wants a new governor, and I am asking you to help me become that new governor,” Mr Omar said.United Democratic Alliance (UDA) secretary general Hassan Omar speaks to the media in Nairobi on May 19, 2026.He claimed that residents had already made up their minds about Mr Nassir's political future, urging them to communicate their position directly to President William Ruto.“Everyone is saying that the governor is going home. Go and listen everywhere. Keep your ears to the ground and go down to the grassroots. And you should also pass this message to President William Ruto: he has the presidential vote here and he will win. But for this one, the gubernatorial seat, no, not here,” he said.Mr Omar's remarks underline a distinction he has repeatedly drawn between the presidential and gubernatorial contests, arguing that Mombasa residents can support Dr Ruto for a second term while rejecting Mr Nassir at the county level.“We have votes for President Ruto, but for the gubernatorial race, we will not negotiate or agree on anything. You must be a one-term governor. That is not negotiable,” he said.The UDA official has been campaigning in Mombasa for Dr Ruto's re-election while simultaneously positioning himself as a challenger for the governor's seat.Mombasa Senator Mohamed Faki (left) and businessman Suleiman Shahbal at the ODM@20 anniversary celebrations at Mama Ngina Waterfront in Mombasa on November 15, 2025.He said the President's development projects at the Coast should persuade residents to support his re-election, but maintained that this should not translate into automatic support for the incumbent governor.Mr Omar, who is also an EALA MP, said he entered politics to bring change and recalled growing up in Mombasa's informal settlements and struggling to obtain an education.“We are children who have fought and struggled for everything we have achieved in life. Nothing has ever been handed to us. Even when we fail, we go back and try again. This business of stepping aside for someone else has no place here. What we want is for the people of Mombasa, the Coast and Kenyans as a whole to be given the opportunity to choose their leaders who will take them forward,” he said.He said leaders should be judged by their record in office and their ability to protect residents' interests.“A leader is someone who protects the interests of the people, safeguards the poor and brings development,” Mr Omar said.He challenged politicians seeking another term to account for what they had delivered rather than rely on fresh campaign promises.“We have seen some emerging and telling you what they will do. Some are beginning to write contracts. But it is time to come out and tell residents what you have done in the four years in leadership,” he said.

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Nation

‘We have no homes to go to, we just want an honest living in Kenya’

Burundian nationals outside the Burundi Embassy with their luggage on September 9, 2026.Sitting quietly on a bench outside his beauty parlour in Kitengela, the Burundian national stared into the distance, unsure what the latest government directive meant for the life he had spent 11 years building in Kenya.Nshimirimana arrived in Kenya as a refugee at the age of 26, fleeing his hometown on the outskirts of Bujumbura at the height of civil wars exacerbated by the 2015 election. He travelled by road, registered as a refugee with the UN refugee agency, UNHCR, and was hosted by a kinsman.“I came into Kenya with a few clothes and a burning ambition,” he said. “I have never gone back to my motherland or met my parents physically. I usually video-call them.”He started as a barber before enrolling for an eight-month beauty course that enabled him to work at a spa in Nairobi’s central business district, serving middle-class women, both local and foreign.Archade Nshimirimana, 34, a beauty parlour owner in Kitengela town, on September 8, 2026.“My business has been doing well and has been able to transform my life and that of my parents back at home. I have always looked forward to expanding to other major towns in the future,” he said.In the 11 years he has lived in Kenya, Nshimirimana has also found love. He is the Burundian community welfare representative and married a Kenyan woman two years ago.But President William Ruto’s September 2 directive targeting foreigners operating small-scale businesses abruptly cast his future into doubt.The directive followed complaints from Kenyan traders over the participation of foreign nationals in small-scale businesses and informal trade. Foreigners were ordered to regularise their status, with the initial September 7 deadline causing anxiety among Congolese, Burundian, Ugandan and Rwandan nationals.In Kitengela, a rapidly growing cosmopolitan town south of Nairobi, many businesses run by non-Kenyans had been shuttered. The town hosts foreigners involved in groceries, barbershops, beauty parlours, tailoring and boda bodas.According to church records, Congolese are the dominant non-Kenyan community in the township, followed by Burundians, Rwandans and Ugandans.Kitengela has over the years become a strategic destination for refugees because of its proximity to Nairobi and availability of menial jobs.Nshimirimana said the sudden policy shift had affected him mentally and economically and was against the Treaty Establishing the East African Community (EAC), which provides for the right of citizens of partner states to live, work, trade and establish businesses under the Common Market Protocol and Kenyan immigration laws.“President Ruto made a mistake. We have foreigners, like myself, registered under UNHCR and then those who are here illegally,” Nshimirimana said. “The last seven days have been full of uncertainty and mental torture.”However, the government subsequently opened a 90-day window for foreign nationals to regularise their immigration status, work permits, business registration and licensing.Burundian nationals wait outside the Burundi Embassy in Nairobi on September 11, 2026, as they await processing of their papers and clearance to return home following a government directive requiring foreign nationals to regularise their travel documents.“I am not willing to go back to Burundi, I’m ready to comply with the Kenyan government directives. Hostility in an EAC member state is counterproductive,” he said.For 21-year-old Iradukunda Samson, hawking crisps in Nakuru town and other parts of the county has been his main source of income for the past three years.The Burundian national moved to Kenya in 2024 with the help of a Burundian friend who had already established a small business. Rather than selling coffee and mandazi, Iradukunda chose the crisps business, which had fewer hawkers.He initially struggled with the language but gradually learnt Kiswahili and established a small source of income. He buys crisps from a Kenyan supplier and sells them on the streets.His three elder brothers later joined him in Nakuru, where they live together after renting three houses at between Sh6, 500 and Sh9,000 a month.On a good day, Iradukunda makes about Sh600, which goes towards rent, food and other basic needs while also helping support his parents and siblings back home.“My friend told me to travel here instead of joining a bad company and start stealing from people since I was fresh from school. He was living with other Burundians, they accommodated me till I established myself and I started contributing to rent, food and other needs. I have employed myself, but the crisps I buy from a Kenyan. Wherever we get arrested we just call him and he would help us,” he said.His modest livelihood was thrown into uncertainty by the government's announcement.Iradukunda had recently visited his parents in Burundi before returning to Kenya, only to find himself caught up in the new directive two months later.

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