Who Is Running for Nyandarua Governor in 2027?

Kiarie Badilisha (Governor, Nyandarua) is in his first term and can run again on 10 August 2027. He won in 2022 on the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket and moved to Rigathi Gachagua's Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP) on 29 July 2026, saying he would seek re-election on it. As of 23 September 2026 his reported challengers were former Water Cabinet Secretary Sicily Kariuki, who is also in DCP, Faith Gitau (Women Rep, Nyandarua) and Philip Karangu, who has the backing of Martha Karua's People's Liberation Party (PLP).

The seat and the 2022 result

Nyandarua has five constituencies: Kinangop, Kipipiri, Ol Kalou, Ol Jorok and Ndaragwa.

Badilisha unseated the sitting governor in 2022. The county figures, as compiled from the IEBC results:

Francis Kimemia (Governor, Nyandarua) had served one term. On the same ballot John Methu (Senator, Nyandarua) won on UDA with 158,096 votes, almost exactly Badilisha's total.

The switch to DCP

Badilisha crossed over at Gachagua's Wamunyoro home in Nyeri, taking the county assembly leadership with him. "Accordingly, in joining and fully supporting the DCP, I shall seek re-election on the party's ticket," he said, as reported by The Standard. He said he was following the wishes of the people who elected him.

Gachagua told The Star that the governor and the MCAs had promised to defend their seats on DCP tickets and would take part in the party's primaries in 2027. "I have assured them that the party primaries will be free and fair," he said.

The move came two weeks after DCP won the Ol Kalou by-election on 16 July 2026 by 35,440 votes to 5,450, a result covered in DCP wins Ol Kalou. Badilisha was one of three Mt Kenya governors reported leaving UDA in mid-2026; the other two are in three Mt Kenya governors are leaving UDA.

He carries some weight into the campaign. In February 2026 a Senate committee questioned him over Sh5.1 billion in pending bills and described the county as technically insolvent, the Eastleigh Voice reported. On 18 August 2026 the High Court in Naivasha granted him anticipatory bail, barring the DCI and the EACC from arresting him while they looked into alleged procurement irregularities. No charge had been reported by 23 September.

Who else wants the job

Sicily Kariuki is the obvious problem for Badilisha, because she is already inside the party he joined. She withdrew from the 2022 governor race, and she has said since 2025 that she would run in 2027 on DCP. Asked on Kameme TV on 3 September 2026 whether the governor's arrival changed her plans, she said, "I am not leaving DCP," People Daily reported. That sets up a primary between the two.

Faith Gitau is in her second term as Woman Representative. She told the Nation in November 2025 that she would not defend that seat. "Nyandarua voters have persuaded me to go for governor," she said. The same profile counted at least five men chasing the seat. Her party for 2027 had not been reported.

Philip Karangu is the PLP's man. People Daily reported on 30 August 2026 that Karua had backed his bid for the governorship as part of the party's grassroots push in the county.

We found no dated 2027 declaration from Kimemia.

Methu and the DCP machine

The senator matters here even though he is not running for governor. In May 2026 Gachagua made Methu DCP's secretary general-designate and its spokesman, The Star reported. Gachagua left for a tour of the United States on 26 August, and The Star reported on 6 September that Methu had become the face of the party at home, running meetings in Nairobi and Laikipia. The tour itself is covered in Gachagua's US tour.

That puts a Nyandarua man at the centre of the party that will decide whether Badilisha or Kariuki carries its ticket. DCP had not published its nomination rules by 23 September. Under the Registrar's timetable, parties had until 16 October 2026 to submit them.

What to watch

The IEBC ran a special registration drive in Ol Kalou from 21 September, with a closing date of 20 October 2026; the details are in the Ol Kalou registration drive.

After that the question is the DCP primary. Party primaries must be finished by about 8 May 2027, and governor candidates file with the IEBC between 3 and 6 June 2027, according to the 2027 election calendar. Whoever loses the DCP ticket has to choose between another party, an independent run and standing down. UDA had not named anyone for Nyandarua by 23 September 2026.