By The Weekly Vision Political Desk
The impeachment of Governor Kawira Mwangaza by the Meru County Assembly on 8 August 2024, upheld by the Senate on 20 August 2024, and affirmed by the High Court of Kenya on 14 March 2025, has sent seismic tremors through Meru County’s political landscape.
This upheaval has set the stage for a fiercely contested and unpredictable race in the 2027 general elections, with new alliances, unexpected endorsements, and strategic withdrawals reshaping the country’s political dynamics overnight.
Mwangaza’s ousting, following her remarkable 2022 election as an independent governor, has created a power vacuum, igniting intense competition among Meru’s political heavyweights for the county’s top positions: Governor and Senator. The current governor, Rev. Isaac Mutuma, sworn in on 17 March 2025, is widely regarded as a transitional figure with limited political clout. Though respected, he is unlikely to contest in 2027 and is more likely to serve as a running mate than a lead candidate.
The spotlight has turned to two formidable contenders for the governorship: former Governor Peter Munya and former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi. In a stunning development, Deputy Speaker of the Senate Kathuri Murungi, a staunch ally of President William Ruto and a previously declared gubernatorial aspirant, has withdrawn his candidacy and endorsed Munya.
This move has shocked observers, given Munya’s close ties to former President Uhuru Kenyatta and ODM leader Raila Odinga, rivals of the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA). Munya’s newfound momentum, bolstered by Murungi’s support, has prompted a counter-alliance. Former Governor Kiraitu Murungi, widely expected to vie for the governorship again, has instead endorsed Linturi and declared his candidacy for the Senate seat in 2027.
This sets up a high-stakes dual contest:
- Munya vs. Linturi for Governor
- Kiraitu vs. Kathuri for Senator
What began as a subdued succession race has escalated into a clash of political titans. Yet, Kawira Mwangaza remains the wild card. If barred by the courts from running due to her impeachment, she could still wield significant influence by mobilising her loyal base, comprising church groups, youth, and female voters, behind one of the frontrunners. Should the courts clear her to contest, her proven ability to disrupt Meru’s political order could make her a formidable contender once more.
“She should not be underestimated,” a political analyst told The Weekly Vision. “Having defeated both Munya and Linturi in 2022, she could do so again if given the opportunity.”Governor Mutuma’s role remains uncertain. An independent candidacy could fragment the vote, but aligning as a running mate, potentially with Munya or Linturi, could strengthen either camp, leveraging his goodwill among religious and grassroots networks. With alliances redrawn and ambitions recalibrated, Meru County is poised to be a pivotal battleground in the 2027 elections.
The gubernatorial and senatorial races have transcended routine contests, evolving into a referendum on political loyalty, strategy, and survival in a county renowned for its independent streak. As one local observer remarked, “This is not merely about who wins, it is about who will shape Meru’s political destiny for the next decade.”
