“Ready to work with either side”: NLP draws thousands, challenges Wiper's grip

This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.

- The National Liberal Party drew thousands to Kitui Stadium on August 13, 2027, in its biggest show of force in the Ukambani region

- NLP leader Augustus Kyalo Muli announced he will contest the Kitui Central parliamentary seat on an NLP ticket in 2027

- The rally came just days after Wiper Senator Enoch Wambua held a smaller meeting at the same venue, sharpening the political rivalry

Amos Khaemba, a journalist at TUKO.co.ke, brings over four years of experience covering politics and current affairs in Kenya.

Kitui - The National Liberal Party (NLP) has mounted a direct challenge to Wiper's long-standing dominance in Ukambani, drawing thousands of supporters to Kitui Stadium on August 13, 2026, in what analysts are calling the party's most significant political mobilisation ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The rally followed a smaller gathering at the same venue by Wiper Senator Enoch Wambua just days earlier, setting up an unmistakable contrast in crowd size and signalling that the region's political landscape may be shifting.

Muli's declaration at Kitui Stadium

NLP leader Augustus Kyalo Muli used the occasion to draw a clear line between his party's approach and that of its rivals, insisting the NLP would engage any political camp on its own terms.

"We will bargain, not beg. We are ready to work with either side, and if necessary, we are prepared to go it alone," Muli told the crowd.

He also confirmed he will vie for the Kitui Central parliamentary seat on an NLP ticket, signalling the party's commitment to building a genuine electoral base in the region rather than simply influencing outcomes from the margins.

Muli criticised Wiper for failing to engage with earlier overtures for dialogue and questioned whether the Kamba community had benefited sufficiently from decades of alignment with established regional leadership under Wiper's Kalonzo Musyoka.

What the rally means for Ukambani in 2027

The NLP's growing visibility creates a more complicated political picture for multiple actors. Kalonzo retains deep-rooted structures and a loyal following built over many years, advantages that cannot be dismissed lightly.

At the same time, president William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza administration, which has struggled to make inroads in Ukambani, may find an opening through a party willing to engage the government without committing to full alignment.

Muli has been clear that regional development, not permanent political loyalty, guides the NLP's positioning. That stance could make the party a pivotal force as coalition negotiations intensify in the months leading up to the election.

Whether the momentum on display at Kitui Stadium ultimately translates into votes at the ballot box will stand as one of the defining questions of the 2027 campaign in the region.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.