From Left: Dr. Daniel Yumbya, Senator Agnes Kavindu (Incumbent) and Jackson Kala (Former CAS Labour). 
By Andrew Mbuva
The 2027 Machakos senatorial race is shaping up to be one of the most hotly contested in the Ukambani region, with the Wiper Democratic Movement bracing for internal tremors as its political heavyweights prepare to lock horns for the party ticket.
Speaking at a Prize Giving ceremony at Kathiani Girls’ High School on Friday, Dr. Daniel Yumbya declared his intention to vie for the Machakos senatorial seat, throwing his hat into a contest already bubbling with high-stakes political drama.
Yumbya, a former Machakos County Health Executive and the current CEO of the International Association of Medical Regulatory Authorities (IAMRA), expressed strong confidence in clinching the seat—should the electorate back him.
“We need good representation. Someone who can sit with the people, collect their views, and take them to the Senate. The current occupant has never held a public baraza to engage citizens on how to move the county forward,” Yumbya said in a veiled jab at incumbent Senator Agnes Kavindu Muthama.
He affirmed his allegiance to the Wiper Party, revealing he would be seeking the party's ticket in 2027. “I am a close ally and confidant of the Party Leader Kalonzo Musyoka, and among the professionals who offer him counsel,” he added, further urging the government to expedite the issuance of national identity cards to students aged 18 and above to ensure full voter participation in the next general election.
Yumbya’s announcement sets the stage for a bruising nomination battle within Wiper, as he will be up against the incumbent Senator Agnes Kavindu Muthama and former Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Jackson Musyoka Kala.
Kavindu, who won the seat in a 2021 by-election and defended it successfully in the 2022 general election, remains a key pillar in Kalonzo’s Ukambani power base.
Her vocal advocacy for the vulnerable and unwavering loyalty to the party have kept her favorably positioned both in Machakos and within Wiper’s national leadership.
Meanwhile, Jackson Kala who ran for the seat in 2017 but lost to the late Boniface Kabaka of CCU has also declared that he will be making a second attempt come 2027.
“God willing, I will vie for the Machakos senatorial seat in 2027 on the Wiper ticket,” Kala announced. “My declaration should not upset anyone, including those already occupying the seat.
In 2021, I was awarded the Wiper ticket after Kabaka’s passing, but I respectfully stepped aside when the party requested me to pave the way for Kavindu. That’s why I was later appointed CAS.”
Kala revealed that it was actually his idea to hand the ticket to Kavindu to block former Senator Johnstone Muthama from reclaiming the seat.
“The agreement was that she would not defend the seat in 2022. But when the time came and we believed Raila was winning the presidency, I was once again asked to stay out so I could be appointed to the Cabinet. Now in 2027, I’m not looking for any appointment—I want to represent the people in the Senate.”
He didn’t mince his words about his rivals: “No one should take Dr. Yumbya seriously—he’s just positioning himself for an appointment because he believes Kalonzo will win the presidency. He and Kavindu are retirees. It’s time to give space to youthful, vibrant leadership.”
Kala also threw down the gauntlet in anticipation of a rumored senatorial bid by former Machakos Governor Alfred Mutua under the Maendeleo Chap Chap Party: “Wiper will need a strong candidate to face off with Mutua, and that candidate is me.”
With Kala’s declaration now public, Wiper faces an intense internal battle between three seasoned loyalists—Kavindu, Yumbya, and Kala—all of whom share deep ties with party leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
Political analysts argue that how Wiper navigates this looming nomination showdown will not only determine who flies the party’s flag in Machakos, but also influence Kalonzo’s national ambitions as he seeks broader support ahead of the 2027 presidential race.
The Machakos Senate seat is critical—not just for the county, but also for Wiper’s regional dominance. With Yumbya promising a consultative leadership style, Kavindu holding the incumbency and grassroots appeal, and Kala championing generational renewal and party loyalty, the contest will likely boil down to who can best convince both the voters and the party leadership that they can deliver results.
The possibility of a three-way split could open a window for rival parties to gain ground, especially if Wiper’s nomination process becomes divisive or chaotic.
Also reported to be interested in the race is retired Machakos area Chief Joshua Kimeu, who is yet to announce his party of choice.
With voter registration among the youth poised to shape the political landscape, Dr. Yumbya’s call for timely issuance of ID cards could become a central campaign issue.
As 2027 approaches, Machakos is emerging as a microcosm of national politics—a space where party loyalty, intergenerational rivalry, and strategic positioning will all collide.
For Kalonzo Musyoka and the Wiper Party, the coming months will be a test of unity, internal democracy, and their ability to manage ambition within the ranks.
