Mbarire, Ichung’wa miss in UDA Aspirants Registration Report

By Newsflash Writer

Several influential figures from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) in the Mt Kenya region were conspicuously missing from the party’s Aspirants Forum Registration Report released on Monday, February 2, 2026.

Their absence has stirred political debate, especially given that those missing are widely known as close allies of President William Ruto.

This also comes as President Ruto hosts over 12,000 aspirants who have shown interest to vie for various positions in next year’s general elections on a UDA ticket at State House, Nairobi.

Mt Kenya heavyweights missing

Among the notable leaders whose names did not appear in the registration report are Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire, who also serves as UDA National Chairperson; National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, who is also the Kikuyu MP; embattled Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi; and Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata.

Political observers say the omission of such senior leaders from the aspirants’ list could signal internal strategy shifts or simply reflect procedural exemptions for sitting office holders.

Kindiki moves to calm speculation

Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, who also hails from the Mt Kenya region, moved to ease mounting speculation by clarifying that incumbent leaders are not required to register as aspirants at this stage.

In a statement, Kindiki said it is not mandatory for sitting UDA governors, senators, Members of Parliament or Members of County Assembly to take part in the current registration process.

At the same time, he lauded the high number of aspirants who have signed up to contest various seats on the UDA ticket in 2027.

“The number of aspirants has shot up ahead of the first United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Party Aspirants Forum meeting tomorrow,” Kindiki said.

He added: “An impressive lot of 149 hopefuls for the 47 Governor seats, 279 for the 47 elected Senator seats, 323 for the 47 Woman Rep seats, 1,372 for the 290 constituency National Assembly seats, and 10,230 aspirants for 1,450 elected ward rep seats. Total 12,353 aspirants.

“No party in Kenya’s 34-year multiparty democratic history has aroused this level of interest. UDA Party is head and shoulders above all its past, present and possibly future peers.”

Efforts by Newsflash to obtain comments from the leaders whose names were missing from the list did not bear fruit, as none of them responded to queries by the time of publication.