As they come and go, most politicians in Kenya enter an election expecting to emerge victorious, but the truth is, most end up losing.
In their 20+ year political careers, only a few politicians in Kenya have managed to never lose an election they participated in, making this achievement quite rare.
Most of Kenya’s prominent politicians have faced defeats in their long political journeys—including the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga and Kenya’s 3rd and 4th Presidents, Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta.
Raila Odinga, for instance, lost all five of his attempts at the presidency, whereas Uhuru Kenyatta lost his first attempt in 2002 but emerged victorious in 2013.
Former Vice President Kalonzo Musyoka and Kenya’s first Vice President, Jaramogi Oginga Odinga, also faced defeats in their presidential bids.
Times Digital Kenya has compiled a list of politicians who have been successful in every election they have participated in, despite 20+ years in politics.
William Ruto
The head of state, President William Ruto, began his political journey as a member and campaigner for the Youth for KANU ’92 (YK92) group in the early 1990s.
In 1997, he contested an elective political seat for the first time, running for the Eldoret North parliamentary constituency under KANU.
As a first-time candidate, he defied the odds to emerge victorious, a seat he would hold through the next elections in 2002 and 2007, this time under the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM).
Although he later shifted from KANU, Ruto also won by a landslide and served until 2013. Due to changes in the 2010 Constitution, a candidate for president or deputy president could no longer simultaneously vie for another seat, such as a parliamentary seat, as was previously allowed. As such, in 2013, Ruto ran as the running mate of Uhuru Kenyatta, who went on to win as Kenya’s 4th President.
In 2017, the pair sought re-election and were initially declared victorious. However, the Supreme Court nullified the results, prompting the electoral board to organize another election. About 90 days later, in the repeat election, they won again.
When Uhuru Kenyatta’s term ended in 2022, William Ruto contested for the presidency under the UDA party within the Kenya Kwanza coalition. Although Uhuru Kenyatta did not support him, instead backing the late former Prime Minister Raila Odinga, Ruto won the election.
This means he has never lost any election he has contested in over the past 20 years, since his first run for the Eldoret North parliamentary seat.
Irungu Kangata
Murang’a Senator Irungu Kang’ata is another political leader with a history of winning every election he has contested.
He first vied for a political seat in 2002, contesting for the Central Ward in Kiharu Constituency, and emerged victorious. In 2013, he sought the Kiharu parliamentary seat under the TNA party and won again.
In the 2017 general election, Kang’ata contested for the Murang’a Senatorial seat via the Jubilee Party and won. While serving as Senator, he was appointed Senate Chief Whip, a position that later led to controversy with then-President Uhuru Kenyatta following his famous viral letter.
In 2022, Kang’ata contested for the Murang’a Governor seat under the UDA ticket and won by a landslide. This victory means he maintained an unbroken winning streak in elective political seats for over 20 years.
Daniel Arap Moi
Kenya’s second President, Daniel Arap Moi, ruled the country for 24 years, from 1978 to 2002, and during that period never lost an election.
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Before becoming president, Moi served as a Member of Parliament for Baringo North from 1963 and later as MP for Baringo Central from 1966 until his retirement.
