More than 40,000 grassroots leaders from counties in the Mount Kenya East region have endorsed President William Ruto’s re-election bid ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The leaders, who converged at Kinoru Stadium in Meru Town, endorsed a decision previously reached by regional elders to support Ruto for a second term.

The gathering also signalled strong regional backing for Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, with the leaders describing him as Ruto’s undisputed principal assistant and expressing their preference for him to remain the President’s running mate in the 2027 presidential contest.

The endorsement comes as political leaders and grassroots networks across the country begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 polls.

Kindiki acknowledged the leaders’ support while defending the performance of the Kenya Kwanza administration since taking office.

He described the government’s record over the past four years as consequential and transformative, pointing to its development agenda and policies as evidence of progress under the Ruto administration.

The Deputy President’s remarks are likely to bolster the administration’s efforts to consolidate support in Mount Kenya East, a region that remains strategically important in Kenya’s national political calculations.

The Kinoru Stadium gathering also provided a platform for grassroots leaders to reaffirm their commitment to the Kenya Kwanza administration, setting the stage for increased political mobilisation as the 2027 election approaches.

With political alliances expected to take shape in the coming months, the endorsement of Ruto and continued support for Kindiki could become an important factor in the administration’s strategy to retain power in 2027.