Kasarani Member of Parliament Ronald Karauri has vowed to contest the 2027 Nairobi gubernatorial race even if he fails to secure the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) nomination.
The legislator said he would consider running as an independent candidate if he was unfairly denied the party ticket, insisting that he was not ready to abandon his ambition of becoming Nairobi Governor.
Speaking during an interview on NTV’s Fixing the Nation on Thursday, November 12, Karauri told journalist Eric Latiff that he hoped UDA would conduct free and fair nominations ahead of the 2027 General Election.
“Yes. I am hoping for a free and fair nomination. I think I am traumatised by what happened to me in Jubilee because I knew I was leading everywhere but I was still denied the ticket. So I had to run as an independent candidate,” he said.
Karauri recalled his previous experience with the Jubilee Party, where he claimed he was leading in the nominations but was denied the party ticket, forcing him to contest independently.
He maintained that he would not withdraw from the Nairobi race over a disputed nomination, saying doing so would disappoint residents who were counting on him.
“If you are unfairly treated, it is only right that you go as an independent. Giving up is disappointing a lot of people in Nairobi and I am not ready to disappoint them,” he added.
Karauri’s remarks come three days after he officially joined UDA on Monday, November 9, in a move that positioned him to seek the party’s ticket for the Nairobi governor’s seat.
He was received at the party headquarters by National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah and UDA Secretary General Hassan Omar.
The MP said his decision to join the ruling party followed Governor Johnson Sakaja’s departure to the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), creating an opportunity for him to pursue the seat under UDA.
During his reception, Ichung’wah disclosed that President William Ruto had personally directed him to welcome Karauri into the party, expressing confidence that UDA would reclaim the Nairobi gubernatorial seat in 2027.
Karauri was elected Kasarani MP in the 2022 General Election as an independent candidate after failing to secure the Jubilee Party ticket.
His latest declaration signals that he intends to remain in the Nairobi gubernatorial contest regardless of the outcome of UDA’s nomination process.