BY STEPHEN KILONZI
President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) suffered a major blow in Embu County after a group of senior party coordinators announced their departure, accusing the party of betrayal, exclusion, and unfulfilled promises.
Led by UDA National Executive Council member Joshua Kanake, the defectors — who were instrumental in mobilizing grassroots support for the Kenya Kwanza coalition — declared they could no longer associate with what they termed as a party that had “abandoned its foot soldiers.”
“These are the very people who recruited supporters and campaigned vigorously. But what do we have to show for it? Isolation, silence, and broken promises,” Kanake said during a heated press briefing in Embu town.
The leaders pointed fingers at UDA Chairperson and Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire, accusing her of sidelining grassroots voices and running the party as a personal fiefdom.
“We have made efforts to engage her, but she has ignored us. From today, we sever ties with UDA. Let Mbarire keep it — we are out,” he added.
Manyatta Constituency coordinator Danson Muriuki said the ruling party had failed the people, citing abductions of youth and a disconnect from the ground.
“We can’t continue supporting a regime that disregards its own,” he said.
Joyce Murekio, another former coordinator, called the treatment of loyalists “disgraceful,” saying, “We carried this party from grass to grace, only to be cast aside. It’s betrayal.”
Mbeere South coordinator Gerald Ireri likened the split to a failed marriage.
“There are no children, and the spouse has already married others. The way we came is the way we go,” Ireri said.
The group said they are now political free agents and are consulting with like-minded Kenyans on the way forward — a move that could disrupt UDA’s grassroots machinery in the region.
However, political analyst Bosco Kiura downplayed the fallout, calling it mere posturing.
“They were at the UDA coordinators’ meeting, and no such resolution to ditch the party was made,” he said.
Kenya Kwanza’s Manyatta politician John Mugo Mate also dismissed the walkout, saying the defectors acted individually.
“The members are intact. We urge Embu locals to continue supporting UDA and the development agenda,” he said.
Despite the denials, the mass defection has cast a spotlight on growing discontent within UDA’s grassroots ranks in the Mt. Kenya region.
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