NAKURU, Kenya – Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja has quit President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and declared her intention to contest the 2027 gubernatorial election on a Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) ticket.
Karanja announced her decision on Friday, October 9, while addressing a forum in Nakuru County, where she criticised Ruto’s administration over what she described as its failure to meet Kenyans’ expectations.
The senator said she had listened to her supporters, who had urged her to seek the county’s top seat, adding that their views had influenced her decision to join the opposition party.
“I know very well that you people are my employers. You are my bosses. Even if I went to the Senate, my party leader knows very well who employed me. It is you people who employed me,” Karanja said.
She pointed to her green outfit and accessories as a signal of her new political affiliation, confirming that she would seek the governorship under DCP.
“You can see I have today dressed in green. My clothes and even my ring are all green, and from today I will vie for that seat under DCP,” she declared.
Karanja Accuses Ruto Of Failing Kenyans
The senator used the announcement to criticise the Kenya Kwanza administration, accusing it of failing to deliver on the expectations of voters who supported it in the 2022 General Election.
Karanja said she had taken her supporters’ concerns into account before deciding to leave the ruling party and pursue the governorship.
“I want to tell my party leader that I have heard the ground, and people have told me that they had a lot of expectations from this administration. They woke up early to elect this government, but unfortunately they did not meet their expectations,” she said.
She also questioned Ruto’s understanding of the economic pressures facing ordinary households, citing rising milk prices as an example of the cost-of-living challenges confronting Kenyans.
“I can see that our president does not understand the needs of the people. The president does not see ahead. Recently I went to the supermarket and found the prices of milk have risen. It is very shameful for Kenya to lack milk,” she added.
From UDA Senator To DCP Gubernatorial Aspirant
Karanja joined UDA in January 2022 before winning the Nakuru senatorial seat on the party’s ticket in the August 2022 General Election.
Her departure marks a shift from the ruling party as she prepares to challenge for the Nakuru governorship in 2027.
The move also comes amid political realignments ahead of the next General Election, with leaders reconsidering their party affiliations and positioning themselves for elective contests.
Wamuchomba Also Quits UDA
Karanja’s announcement follows a similar move by Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba, who on Thursday, October 8, announced that she was leaving UDA.
Wamuchomba said she would no longer seek an elective seat or campaign for the ruling party.
She attributed her decision to what she described as a lack of respect for other communities among some UDA leaders, particularly criticising Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale over remarks she said targeted the Mount Kenya community.
The two departures add to the political shifts unfolding ahead of the 2027 polls, as leaders reassess their affiliations and potential electoral paths.
