NAIROBI, Kenya – A section of youth within the Kenya African National Union (KANU) has rejected reports of a political partnership between the party’s national chairman Gideon Moi and President William Ruto, saying such a move betrays the party’s founding ideals.
Under the banner of the Kanu Youth Congress, the group said it “fully dissociates” from the alleged KANU–UDA pact, warning that any alliance with the ruling coalition would compromise the independence party’s principles.
“Our values as the youth and as a party are founded on accountability, transparency, respect for human rights, and promotion of the rule of law,” the statement read in part.
It was signed by Kanu Youth Congress vice chairperson Kimani Mbugua, vice secretary Atemo Mwangu Lucy, treasurer Zamzam Gurow, and vice treasurer Isaac Mwashinga.
The youth accused the Kenya Kwanza administration of presiding over “consistent abductions, enforced disappearances, and killings of government critics,” saying no political agreement could “sanitise a government riddled with human rights violations, corruption, and disregard for constitutional order.”
They urged the government to address what they called Kenya’s “real challenges” — including a health crisis, unemployment, education reforms, and industrial stagnation — instead of “consolidating the political class under the guise of a broad-based government.”
“We need the system to work. We need social services revived. We need fair employment opportunities for jobless youths and industrialization prioritized over taxation,” they said.
The KANU Youth Congress position on the erroneous partnership between the party chairman Hon. Gideon Moi and H.E President William Ruto.
In a rallying call, the group encouraged young Kenyans to register as voters and take an active role in shaping the country’s leadership.
“To the youthful population, we urge you to get out in large numbers and register as voters. Let our online, physical, and digital activism translate into a voice of change and progressive leadership,” the statement concluded.
The youth’s declaration comes days after Kanu chairman Gideon Moi dropped his bid for the Baringo senatorial by-election, opting instead to back the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate.
The decision followed a meeting at Moi’s Kabarak residence on Friday, where Kanu Secretary-General George Wainaina declared the party’s support for the Kenya Kwanza government.
“If there is any KANU member who doesn’t know where we are heading, you’d better know that we have gone — hakuna kitu imebaki, sisi tumeenda,” Wainaina said during the meeting.
President William Ruto later confirmed he had personally reached out to Moi, describing the move as part of efforts to “unite the country and advance Kenya’s development agenda.”
