Kasarani Member of Parliament Ronald Karauri has announced that he will seek the Nairobi gubernatorial seat as an independent candidate in the 2027 General Election if he fails to secure the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) nomination.
Speaking during a media interview on Thursday, November 12, Karauri said he expects the ruling party to conduct transparent and credible nominations ahead of the 2027 polls.
The legislator, however, warned that he would not hesitate to pursue an independent candidacy if the party’s nomination process was compromised.
“I am hoping we will have a transparent nominations process. Because when we get to March next year, the nominations are done, in case again I am played like Jubilee did me, then I will run as an independent candidate,” Karauri said.
Karauri also explained that his decision to join UDA was influenced by Nairobi Governor Johnson Sakaja’s departure from the ruling party to seek re-election on an ODM ticket.
He said Sakaja’s exit created an opportunity for him to pursue his gubernatorial ambitions under the UDA banner.
“The current governor has left the ruling party and said he will vie on an ODM ticket, so of course he left a space in UDA, and that is the reason I decided to take my space in the ruling party and vie on a UDA ticket,” he added.
The Kasarani MP officially joined UDA on Monday, November 9, during a ceremony attended by National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah and the party’s Secretary General, Hassan Omar.
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Announcing his move, Karauri described UDA as the most suitable political vehicle through which he could pursue his ambition of leading Nairobi County.
“Today, I take a new political step by joining the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) as I pursue my ambition to serve Nairobi as Governor in 2027. I looked at all the options and chose where I believe I can deliver for Nairobi,” he stated.
He further expressed confidence that he could bring together Nairobi’s diverse communities around a common development agenda.
Meanwhile, Ichung’wah disclosed that President William Ruto had personally instructed him to receive Karauri into the party.
The Majority Leader also expressed confidence that UDA would reclaim the Nairobi gubernatorial seat in the 2027 elections.
“The President called me in the morning and told me that I should come and welcome Karauri to the UDA party. In 2022, Nairobi was UDA, and that will be the case in 2027,” Ichung’wah said.