Why Governor Kang'ata has ditched UDA

Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata addresses the press at Flamingo Towers, Nairobi, May 3, 2026. [Edward Kiplimo, Standard]

After months of keeping the public guessing over his political stance, Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata has finally dropped his bombshell.

Kang’ata, who is famed for his letter to former President Uhuru Kenyatta faulting him for persistent economic blunders, has done it again, this time delivering the “letter” through a press conference.

Yesterday, Kang’ata briefly hosted President William Ruto in Murang’a, after which he travelled to Nairobi to announce that he would be ditching the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

The Governor said he has often been pressured to support projects he does not agree with, and that no amount of engagement with the President to change strategies has yielded results. “I have been pushed to give my stand on politics, but I chose to keep it low and do the job for the people of Murang’a. However, given the nature of politics we have been witnessing, I have been forced to take a stand,” he said.

Accompanied by his family, he regretted that he had even been accused of feigning illness to avoid attending the President’s events.

Kang’ata said leadership must be anchored in persuasion, not pressure or coercion. According to him, politics is about winning hearts through ideas, humility and service, engaging citizens respectfully even when they disagree with their leaders.

He made reference to what befell former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi and former Governor Kawira Mwangaza, among others, saying such political hostility is strengthening the opposition at the expense of the government of the day.

Even before announcing his move, he urged the opposition to put in place stronger strategies that citizens can rely on.

In his three-page statement, Kang’ata said recent developments in the political environment raise concern, noting that instances of confrontation and tension, whether involving leaders, places of worship or opposition figures, create a perception that politics is drifting towards intolerance. “This does not strengthen our democracy. It reflects patterns we once collectively opposed,” he said.

He also faulted the Government for failure to strengthen key pillars of manufacturing, education and health.

On education, he noted that the country should move decisively towards fully funded free day secondary education to guarantee access for every child and ease the burden on families. This, he insisted, must be complemented by stronger investment in teacher quality, technical and vocational training, and school infrastructure.

He also stressed the need to prioritise manufacturing, calling for a shift from consumption to production. This, he said, requires lowering the cost of power, aligning tax incentives with actual output and exports, and establishing well-serviced industrial zones linked to key sectors such as agro-processing and textiles.

Similarly, public procurement should deliberately prioritise locally manufactured goods to grow the domestic industry and create jobs.

In health, he said the priority should be strengthening primary healthcare, ensuring a reliable supply of essential medicines, and expanding insurance coverage in a fiscally sustainable manner.

“Preventive care must take precedence to reduce long-term costs and improve outcomes,” he noted.

The Governor said his responsibility is to the people who entrusted him with leadership. “I have shared my views openly within the party and engaged in candid discussions at the highest level. While those engagements have been respectful, we have not reached full convergence,” he stated. “In light of this, and after careful reflection, I wish to state that when the appropriate time comes, I will not seek to defend my seat on the party’s ticket. I will, at a later stage, communicate the platform through which I will present myself to the electorate.”