Talai Women Urge Mama Ngina to Persuade Uhuru to Back Ruto’s 2027 Re-election Bid

Women from Baringo's Talai community have appealed to former First Lady Mama Ngina Kenyatta to convince her son, former President Uhuru Kenyatta, to endorse President William Ruto's 2027 re-election campaign.

They claim that Uhuru promised Talai elders to support Ruto for two terms after receiving their blessings during his presidency. The women urged Mama Ngina to remind Uhuru of this commitment.

Calls to Honour Alleged Promise

Rose Chepkoech, patron of the Talai Women's Caucus, emphasized the importance of upholding the pledge, stating that Uhuru benefited from the elders' blessings during his campaigns and should therefore fulfil his promise.

"We have come to you as a mother because if your child has forgotten, we want you to remind him. Please tell him to remember the promise he made," Chepkoech said.

Political Context and Shifting Alliances

• Talai Women's Caucus and Talai Forum leaders have urged Uhuru to reconsider any opposition to Ruto's bid, warning of potential repercussions if the promise is broken.
• Geoffrey Lubuti, deputy secretary-general of the Talai Forum, cautioned that failing to honour the vow could bring a curse.
• Since leaving office in 2022, Uhuru has been critical of Ruto’s government and aligned with opposition forces.
• Ruto, Uhuru’s former deputy, narrowly won the 2022 presidential election and took office in September 2022.
• In 2025, Ruto and the late Raila Odinga formed a cooperation agreement before Raila’s death in October that year.

The appeal from Talai women highlights ongoing political realignments as the 2027 general election approaches.