NLP intensifies Ukambani push with town halls ahead of 2027

The National Liberal Party (NLP) leader Dr Augustus Muli addresses a town hall meeting in Ukambani/HANDOUT

The National Liberal Party (NLP) has intensified its grassroots campaign in Ukambani, launching a series of town hall meetings as part of its preparations for the 2027 General Elections. 

The meetings, spearheaded by party leader Dr Augustus Muli, have drawn significant attendance, underscoring the party’s growing appeal in a region long considered a stronghold of the Wiper Patriotic Party.

NLP’s recruitment drive has already registered close to one million members in Ukambani.

Dr Muli told supporters that the town halls are designed to give communities a direct voice in shaping the party’s agenda.

“We are building a movement that listens, responds, and delivers. Every voice matters in this journey toward 2027,” he said. 

Political observers note that NLP’s rising profile in Ukambani reflects a shift in the region’s political dynamics.

While Wiper has traditionally commanded loyalty in Ukambani, NLP’s grassroots mobilisation strategy is challenging that dominance, offering voters an alternative platform. 

The National Liberal Party (NLP) leader Dr Augustus Muli addresses a town hall meeting in Ukambani/HANDOUT

NLP’s growing tide in Ukambani may have informed the United Opposition’s decision to stage rallies in Makueni, Kitui, and Machakos beginning March 30, 2026.

The move is seen as a direct response to NLP’s surge, with opposition leaders keen to reaffirm their presence in the region. 

United Opposition is set to embark on a five-day Ukambani tour with their rallying call being “Komboa Kenya.”

After completing engagements in Ukambani, the group will move to the Coast in the second week of April, which will be culminated by a three-day retreat at the coast, to establish the structures of their formation.

The rivalry between NLP and Wiper, alongside the broader opposition push, is expected to intensify as the election approaches, with NLP investing heavily in community outreach and voter engagement.

For NLP, the town hall meetings and its swelling membership base mark a deliberate effort to cement its presence and stake a claim as a party of choice in Ukambani.

Members and supporters of National Liberal Party (NLP) during a town hall meeting in Ukambani/HANDOUT

In February, Muli has issued a rallying call to the Kamba community, declaring that under his leadership the region will be delivered “safely to the Promised Land.”

Muli accused successive national administrations of deliberately sidelining the region and trapping it in what he termed “poverty politics.”

He criticised both the national government and the Opposition, saying that despite their long-standing influence in Kenya’s political landscape, little meaningful development has reached the area

“The Kamba Nation, if you follow me, I will deliver you safely to the Promised Land,” Muli said.

He framed his leadership as a decisive break from what he described as decades of stagnation, promising to champion infrastructure growth, economic empowerment, and greater political inclusion for the region.