Poll Puts Koinange Ahead In Laikipia Governorship Race

By Fatuma Rashid Arfun

County Secretary Koinange Wahome has opened a clear edge in the 2027 Laikipia gubernatorial race, buoyed by shifting political currents in Mt Kenya and mounting economic discontent.

A February opinion poll by The Laikipian places Wahome at 46.53 percent, ahead of former Governor Ndiritu Muriithi, who polled 42.43 percent.

The margin is modest but politically significant. It places Wahome within striking distance of an outright majority in a race shaping into a two-horse contest.

Other contenders trail. Cate Waruguru polled 4.89 percent, while Mwangi Kiunjuri registered 4.57 percent. The rest remain below two percent.

Analysts link Wahome’s early advantage to the growing Democratic Change Party momentum across Mt Kenya. The emerging DCP wave has unsettled traditional United Democratic Alliance strongholds.

Muriithi, who works in President William Ruto’s administration at the Kenya Revenue Authority and has not declared the 2027 ticket, faces headwinds tied to national politics.

Rising cost of living and heavy taxation have dominated public discourse in the region. Many residents blame national economic policy for strained household incomes and shrinking business margins.

Political observers say that association weighs on candidates aligned to the ruling administration.

“In our engagements, economic pressure and taxation came up repeatedly. Many respondents appear to prefer county-focused leadership over national alignments,” said Laikipia Ni Sisi CBO secretary Keneth Kamau.

Muriithi also carries the baggage of his 2022 defeat to Governor Joshua Irungu. Analysts note he has not rebuilt a county-wide political machine since that loss.

His support remains concentrated in pockets, with no clear evidence of expanded networks beyond his previous base.

By contrast, Wahome benefits from institutional continuity. As County Secretary, he has worked within the county structure and understands its administrative systems, budget cycles and development pipelines.

That institutional knowledge, observers argue, reassures voters wary of disruption.

Wahome has also sustained grassroots mobilisation through economic empowerment initiatives across wards. Youth and women’s groups linked to environmental schemes and enterprise support programmes form part of his expanding network.

Those engagements have kept him visible beyond formal government duties.

“The numbers suggest voters are rewarding continuity and hands-on engagement at the grassroots. There is a sense that administrative experience matters at this stage,” Kamau said.

Crossing the 45 percent threshold this early signals consolidated support. It also strengthens Wahome’s leverage in fundraising and alliance talks as campaigns begin to crystallise.

While the race remains fluid, current trends favour a candidate anchored in county governance rather than national politics.

With more than a year before campaigns formally intensify, the contest is far from settled.

But for now, the numbers indicate that Wahome has momentum, organisational reach and a political climate that tilts in his favour.