Nakuru Governor Susan Kihika has urged leaders in Kenya’s broad-based government to prioritise national unity and service delivery as they prepare for an increasingly competitive political environment ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Kihika made the remarks on Monday while hosting a retreat for leaders supporting the broad-based government in Naivasha, Nakuru County.
The retreat brings together elected and appointed officials drawn from President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), which entered into a cooperation agreement that laid the foundation for the current broad-based government arrangement.
The meeting provides an opportunity for leaders from the two political formations to assess their cooperation, discuss the government’s priorities and strengthen coordination ahead of the 2027 elections.
It comes as opposition leaders step up efforts to consolidate their support and present a united challenge to Ruto in the next presidential election.
Kihika said the presence of leaders from different political parties demonstrated that Kenya’s political class could overcome partisan differences and work towards a common national agenda.
“The broad-based government represents an important opportunity to bring Kenyans together across political divide and to place the interests of the country above partisan considerations. The presence here today of leaders from UDA and ODM, alongside the governors, deputy governors, members of parliament and senators, cabinet secretaries, principal secretaries, is itself a powerful demonstration that Kenya's political leadership can come together in pursuit of a common national agenda,” she said.
The governor highlighted that political cooperation should go beyond negotiations between parties and translate into improvements in the lives of ordinary Kenyans.
She explained that leaders should use the arrangement to expand employment opportunities, strengthen public services and attract investment rather than allow it to become primarily a political pact ahead of the elections.
“Our unity must not simply be a political arrangement, Your Excellency, it must translate into better lives for our people, more jobs and opportunities for our young people, stronger healthcare and education systems, improved infrastructure, greater investments, and a more prosperous and inclusive economy.”
The Naivasha retreat comes at a critical point for the broad-based government, with its partners seeking to formalise their political cooperation while managing competing interests within the alliance.
ODM has been pushing for a greater role in the political arrangement, including consideration for senior government positions and a larger stake in the coalition’s 2027 political strategy.
The meeting is therefore expected to provide a platform for leaders to strengthen cooperation between UDA and ODM, assess their political and legislative priorities and build a common approach to the challenges facing the government.
Kihika acknowledged that political competition would intensify as the country moves closer to the 2027 polls but warned leaders against allowing electoral contests to undermine national cohesion.
“As we look ahead, we are also conscious that the political environment, Your Excellency, will become increasingly demanding as we approach next year's elections. And elections are an important part of our democracy, but they must never become a source of division that undermines the progress we have made as a country,” she said.
She called for political maturity, restraint and dialogue, saying leaders should be able to compete for votes while maintaining national unity.
Nakuru Governor also urged participants to use the retreat to openly assess the opportunities and challenges facing the country and listen to concerns from the public.
“Let us speak openly about the opportunities before us, the challenges we face, and the concerns of the people we represent. Let us listen to one another, challenge ideas, Your Excellency, respectfully, and most importantly, emerge with a clearer sense of purpose and a renewed commitment to serving Kenyans,” she said.
The governor said the retreat should ultimately strengthen cooperation among leaders and give the broad-based government a clearer sense of direction as it prepares to deliver on its agenda while navigating the increasingly competitive political landscape ahead of 2027.