For many years, Nakuru has been termed the bedrock of Kenya's politics. Many political alignments and agreements have been sealed in this town, justifying the same.

This perhaps informs the reason why most political parties have always strived to have a share by setting up a physical office in Nakuru.

Read: Here are the people who gave Nakuru the political influence she enjoys

However, the trend seems to be changing as a notable number of political parties seem to have shut down their offices.

Some of these parties include the Party of National Unity (PNU) that opened their office way back in 2017.

However, the office that was established at Total Roundabout, Industrial area just on the Nakuru-Eldoret Highway is no longer available.

A clear indicator that the presence of a Party that steered former President, the late Mwai Kibaki to power for his second term, seems to vanish in Nakuru's political space.

Nakuru based PNU official John Kamama however insists that PNU is still a party to watch moving forward.

The script is similar for Orange Democratic Movement (ODM)- a party associated with former Prime Minister Raila Odinga.

With a stronghold in Nakuru West Sub County, Kivumbini Ward in Nakuru East and Olkaria Ward in Naivasha, the Party has had a physical branch office in Nakuru West.

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The office used to be housed at Tankers in Shabab Ward.

An office that used to be a beehive of activities especially during the electioneering period is no longer within the premise, having been rented out to someone else.

Nakuru West ODM politician Hezron Okiki reveals to Mtaa Wangu that the ODM Nakuru office was shut following wrangles among Nakuru office bearers.

"The office is no longer there due to what is said to be perennial wrangles among officials in Nakuru," he says.

Meanwhile, the Jubilee Party has not been spared either.

Office of Senator Tabitha Karanja now sits where Jubilee party offices were in Nakuru, Milimani estate.

The office that used to host Jubilee Party is currently the office of Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja who was elected on United Democratic Alliance Party.

In an earlier interview, Peter Kiplangat- one of the officials said they moved out of the office in February 2023, in what he terms was a directive from the National office in Nairobi.

According to the official, the Party is in the process of looking for another space to be housed.

Read: UDA's Tabitha Karanja occupies former Jubilee party offices

Lastly, Mtaa Wangu looks at the Amani National Congress (ANC) party that is associated with the current Chief Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi.

The party used to have an active physical office in Nakuru city centre. The office was opened in June 2016 at an event that was officiated by Mudavadi.

However, the office is no longer operational, with no communication from the Party as to why.

Nakuru based Political Analyst who also doubles up as Friends of Devolution Chairman Benson Macharia says the move is as a result of parties lacking a continuity structure.

Speaking to Mtaa Wangu via Phone interview, Macharia adds that the political parties will only seem active during the electioneering period and then shut down the offices, with all serious matters being attended to by the Head office in Nairobi.

“The closure of the offices does not mean that Nakuru is losing her political shine. It may be just a case of cutting costs as the country is not politically charged at the moment,” he adds.

Macharia notes that any serious political party should never miss a branch office in Nakuru, which is a county of say in matters politics.

pmambili@gmail.com

Related: How Nakuru rose to become Kenya's 'political capital'

Alarm as various political parties close their offices in Nakuru

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Pristone Mambili