On Saturday, January 17, newspapers highlighted the political changes in the country, explaining how leaders are quietly changing alliances and positioning themselves strategically as the race for the 2027 General Election begins to gain momentum.
Source: UGC
1. The Saturday Standard
According to the publication, several kidney patients staged a tree-hugging protest outside the Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) yesterday, demanding urgent government intervention to address serious gaps in services.
Organized by the Kidney Patients Association of Kenya, the protesters, including transplant survivors, highlighted the ongoing shortage of essential post-transplant drugs, limited medical care, and bureaucratic challenges associated with the Community Health Authority (SHA).
For hours, patients hugged a mature native tree in the hospital grounds, a symbolic request to focus on their problems.
John Gikonyo, president of the society, explained that patients often receive only two weeks’ worth of medicine instead of the three months’ medicine they deserve, forcing frequent and expensive trips to Nairobi or Eldoret.
He also raised concerns about the lack of a special payment section, which forces immunocompromised patients to move around the hospital, increasing health risks.
Following the protest, the management of KNH, led by senior specialist Joel Lessan, held a meeting with the protestors.
Lessan assured that the hospital is addressing these issues step by step, including plans to divide some services, allow patients to receive care closer to home and reduce the burden of transportation.
… The warning came during a joint session of the Finance, National Planning, Public Debt, and Privatization committees, jointly chaired by Kuria Kimani and Shurie Abdi.
The government plans to divest up to 15% of its 35% controlling stake, with South Africa-based Vodacom identified as a potential strategic partner. Revenue of KSh204 billion is aimed at infrastructure projects.
The LSK emphasized that controlling a large number of foreign companies could shift strategic decision-making from Kenya, undermining the country’s digital economy goals.
Lawyers cited the experience of Zambia, where the sale of Zamtel to a foreign investor led to underinvestment and weakened communications capacity, as an example of caution.
3. Saturday Nation
As the newspaper reports, the former ODM leader Raila Odinga he was actively planning the 2027 General Election, aiming to win the presidency by uniting the opposition under his ticket.
According to Suna East Member of Parliament Junet Mohamed, Raila believed that no one else in the opposition was capable of defeating the President William Rutoand he had planned strategies to gather all the groups behind him.
“Don’t fool anyone: Raila was still planning to run for the presidency. He didn’t believe there was anyone in the current opposition who was capable of defeating President Ruto. He felt that if he could convince the common opponents to unite behind him as one, he would win,” he told the newspaper.
Junet revealed that Raila was also considering alternatives, including strengthening ODM and embedding it in the wider government, possibly even negotiating support from Ruto for 2027, while aiming for Ruto’s return in 2032.
“If he ultimately chooses not to run, he said he would instead strengthen his party and officially strengthen it within the broader government. He told me he could even convince Ruto to support him in 2027 under the plan, with the possibility of Ruto returning in 2032. There were many examples like that,” he added.
Junet dismissed widespread claims among some of his colleagues that Raila had promised to support ODM for Ruto’s re-election, insisting that such discussions had not taken place.
Raila’s plans were reportedly finalized in 2026, allowing for strategic adjustments based on the political environment.
“No. We had not reached that point. All those decisions should have been made this year, 2026, if he had lived,” Junet said.
4. Nation Today
Kiswahili newspaper reports that President William Ruto directly accused the former president Uhuru Kenyatta for allegedly sponsoring some ODM leaders to oppose the general government, a move that he says has brought division within the party.
Speaking on January 10 at the Eldoret State Hall during a meeting with 41 of the 42 Siaya County Representatives, Ruto named the Siaya governor James Orengourging him not to be swayed by foreign politics or financial influence and to resolve any differences through direct communication with the President.
The meeting, attended by senior officials including Energy and Petroleum Minister Opiyo Wandayi and Interior Minister Raymond Omollo, focused on development projects and national plans.
Ruto emphasized that the inclusive government agenda aims to directly benefit citizens, urging councilors to collaborate with national and county structures.
He emphasized transparency and the need for local leaders to resist political pressure or financial incentives.
The Speaker of the County Assembly, George Okode explained that the meeting was meant for councilors only to review the implementation of development projects promised earlier, explaining that Orengo, his deputy, and the county MPs were not present but had expressed their support.
The MCAs maintained that the meeting did not involve discussions on the removal of the governor, dismissing rumors of political conspiracies.
Omollo noted that some leaders may publicly criticize the government while seeking personal participation, stressing the importance of integrity in governance.
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