Machakos County Assembly Minority Leader Francis Kavyu/HANDOUT
Machakos County Assembly Minority Leader Francis Kavyu has urged the people of Ukambani to abandon ethnic-based politics and instead support leaders with a clear development agenda ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Kavyu said the region should prioritise transformative leadership over political rhetoric and alliances built around ethnicity.
"It is time for the people of Ukambani to shift from
the politics of ethnicity and empty sloganeering to the politics of
development, empowerment and results," Kavyu said.
"Next year, we must vote based on a development agenda, proven leadership and a vision that delivers real progress for our people."
The county assembly Minority Leader, who has declared his interest in the Mavoko parliamentary seat, cautioned residents against being swayed by political messaging that appears inclusive on the surface but lacks tangible benefits for the region.
"We must look at politics from a development angle and not affiliations or good hashtags. When you listen to them, they seem to include us, but when you look deeply, they have nothing for us," he said.
According to Kavyu, the people of Ukambani should not allow themselves to become political pawns in shifting alliances ahead of the next election.
"The people of Ukambani should not be treated as a matter of convenience. Next year it must be progress-oriented politics," he said.
Kavyu also took issue with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's recent description of the Kamba community as cousins of the Mt Kenya region, questioning the timing of the remarks.
"They call us cousins now, but when they were in government they did not. After they were thrown out of government, then we became cousins," Kavyu said.
His remarks come as Gachagua intensifies efforts to forge a broad opposition coalition ahead of the 2027 elections.
The former Deputy President has recently appeared alongside Wiper Party leader Kalonzo Musyoka at several political events as they seek to consolidate support across different regions.
During the engagements, Gachagua has described the Kamba community as close relatives of the Mt Kenya people, saying the two regions share deep historical, cultural and political ties.
He has maintained that a united opposition bringing together Mt Kenya, Ukambani and other regions would present a credible alternative to President William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza administration in the 2027 General Election.
While opposition leaders continue to court Ukambani voters through calls for regional unity, Kavyu insists that the region's support should be earned through tangible development commitments rather than ethnic appeals.
