NAIROBI, Kenya- Kieni MP Njoroge Wainaina has announced his exit from the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and joined the Ufanisi Kenya Party, becoming the latest politician from the Mt Kenya region to distance himself from the party ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Wainaina made the announcement at a gathering in Kieni Constituency, Nyeri County, on Saturday, October 17.
He described Ufanisi as a national party and said he had taken what he called a “bold step” by establishing and joining the political outfit.
He also presented himself as its leader in Nyeri County.
The MP, who was elected to Parliament on a UDA ticket in 2022, said the party was not intended to serve Nyeri alone.
His announcement makes him the latest elected leader from a region that was a key part of President William Ruto’s 2022 electoral coalition to publicly change or reconsider their political affiliation.
Wainaina says Ufanisi is a national party
At the event, Wainaina used a vehicle metaphor to describe his move, saying he had formed a political vehicle that would carry Kieni residents.
He also referred to the idea that Mt Kenya leaders had previously entered government using a party that did not belong to the region.
His remarks did not include a detailed explanation of what prompted him to leave UDA, or a specific policy difference with the ruling party.
He was elected as Kieni’s MP in 2022.
Party exits gather pace in Mt Kenya
Wainaina’s switch comes amid a series of political realignments involving leaders from Mt Kenya who previously supported UDA or the President’s political camp.
Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba said she would not seek re-election on a UDA ticket, citing her objections to remarks by some leaders in the ruling party.
Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro announced in August that he was leaving UDA and joining the People’s Party of Kenya.
He said his decision followed dissatisfaction with the government’s record and UDA’s campaign promises.
Other leaders have also shifted their party positions.
Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata and Nyandarua Governor Kiarie Badilisha joined the Democracy for the Citizens Party, while Gatundu South MP Gabriel Kagombe also moved from UDA to DCP.
Their decisions, along with Wainaina’s, point to a changing political landscape in the region as leaders assess their options before the next election.
What the shift means ahead of 2027
Mt Kenya has been central to national coalition-building and presidential campaigns.
UDA secured significant support in the region during the 2022 election, when Ruto was elected president.
With the next General Election scheduled for 2027, party switches by elected leaders can affect how candidates organise locally and how parties negotiate alliances.
However, individual defections do not by themselves establish how voters will act in the next election.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s DCP enjoys massive following in the Mt Kenya region.
