Political activities have intensified across Nandi County as politicians position themselves for various elective positions in the 2027 General Election step-up grassroots mobilization.

The heightened political activity has been witnessed during church functions, fundraisers, sports events, community meetings, and meet-the-people tours as aspirants seek to consolidate their support bases ahead of party nominations and the General Election.

The governor’s contest has attracted Tinderet MP, Julius Melly, the Nandi Woman Representative, Cynthia Muge, former Governor, Cleophas Lagat, former County Assembly Speaker Joshua Kiptoo, lawyer Allan Kosgey, Dr Zaccius Rop, engineer Anderson Serem, and finance expert Antipas Tirop.

Melly, who has received backing from elders in Tinderet, says his three-term experience as an MP, teacher, and parliamentary committee chairman has equipped him with the experience required to lead the county.

He has placed education and healthcare at the center of his proposed agenda, promising reforms in Early Childhood Development Education and improved access to healthcare for vulnerable families.

“Nandi County requires modern health facilities and motivated medical staff, while ECDE teachers should receive better support, and learning infrastructure should be improved,” he said.

Muge, who is seeking to move from the Woman Representative position to the governor’s office, has said her interest in the seat is driven by the desire to redefine service delivery and ensure residents benefit more from devolution.

She has continued to emphasize women and youth empowerment, education, sports, and community development during her grassroots engagements.

Former Governor Lagat, who is seeking a political comeback, has been campaigning on the need for residents to freely choose their preferred leader.

He has cautioned against attempts by powerful individuals to impose candidates on the electorate, insisting that the people of Nandi should determine who becomes their next governor.

Kiptoo, meanwhile, has been using community engagements to build his political network while presenting himself as a leader with experience in county affairs.

His engagements have focused on development, accountability, and improving services to residents.

Tirop, on the other hand, has been presenting himself as a professional seeking to introduce a new approach to leadership and development. He has emphasized the need for results-oriented leadership and has highlighted youth empowerment, education, and digital skills through his community initiatives.

Tirop has centered his campaign on prudent management of county resources, arguing that Nandi requires leadership capable of properly utilizing available resources to improve the lives of residents.

The Senate contest is also beginning to attract attention, with incumbent Senator Samson Cherargei remaining active in national and local political affairs.

Cherargei has continued to defend the government’s development agenda while maintaining a strong presence in national political debates.

The Senator has also spoken strongly on political mobilisation ahead of 2027, urging supporters to back leaders aligned with the government’s agenda.

His political future remains a subject of interest, as he has also been linked to the gubernatorial contest.

Isaiah Cheruiyot is among those seeking to establish himself in the Senate race and has been engaging residents as he builds his grassroots network.

The Woman Representative contest has also started taking shape, particularly with Muge’s gubernatorial bid.

Noeline Maru is among those stepping up her activities for the seat and was in Nandi Hills on Sunday as part of a meet-the-people tour.

Maru used the tour to interact with residents and engage them on issues affecting communities, women, and young people, while seeking to strengthen her grassroots support ahead of the 2027 contest.

Her activities have added another dimension to the political competition in Nandi, with aspirants increasingly taking their campaigns to the grassroots instead of waiting for the formal campaign period.

The emerging contests are expected to focus heavily on agriculture, education, healthcare, roads, employment, youth empowerment, women’s development, and management of public resources.

With the election approaching, politicians are also expected to intensify efforts to build alliances and secure the support of influential community leaders and political networks.

The growing political activity has already raised calls for peaceful campaigns, with community and women leaders urging politicians to allow residents to make informed choices and avoid using young people to cause political confrontations.

The campaigns are expected to become more visible across the county’s six constituencies, with aspirants seeking to convince voters that their respective programmes and leadership experience can address the county’s development needs as the 2027 elections draw closer.

By Sammy Mwibanda