Jumwa flips again: Why she left Wiper for Ruto

President William Ruto welcomes former CS Aisha Jumwa back to the ruling UDA on November 12, 2026. [PCS]

Former Gender Cabinet Secretary and controversial Kilifi politician Aisha Jumwa has become a mistress of flip-flop politics after returning to President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) last week.

Jumwa, who is fondly called Mekatilili wa Menza or Shangazi wa Taifa for her bravery, returned to the so-called broad-based government fold amid speculation that life in the opposition could have been tougher than she thought when she made a dramatic defection from UDA, complaining of betrayal and isolation by Ruto and his allies.

There is talk that Ruto could have courted her back after she launched a scathing attack on his administration’s failures and appeared to be tilting the Coast political landscape towards the opposition.

While campaigning with Wiper Patriotic Front leader Kalonzo Musyoka at the Coast during her brief stay in the party, Jumwa sent a powerful message to voters: they should emulate Ol Kalou by accepting goodies and projects from Ruto’s government but voting for the opposition.

This was largely seen as weakening Ruto’s chances of winning votes in the region. Kalonzo claimed the opposition was capturing the ODM stronghold after Jumwa and Nyali MP Mohamed Ali left UDA and joined Wiper, likening himself and Jumwa to sports icons Ronaldo and Messi.

“I know that the government will splash goodies on Coast residents. But I urge you to accept the goodies and projects, but vote for the opposition just like the people of Ol Kalou did,” she had urged, referring to a recent by-election in Ol Kalou constituency in the Central Kenya region, where voters rejected UDA after it splashed cash and other goodies on them.

Political observers say Ruto and his team realised that Jumwa could turn the tables on the broad-based campaign team at the Coast because of her powerful stage persuasion and bravery, and convinced her to return to UDA.

With the plan to zone the Coast in favour of sitting governors fading and campaign resources available, political pundits say Jumwa could have been swayed to make a U-turn and rejoin the Ruto camp, which recognises her as an asset in the campaign arena.

Jumwa, an aspirant for the Kilifi governor seat, formally defected back to UDA at State House, Mombasa, on November 12 this year and was received by Ruto.

She had abandoned UDA in July this year, citing frustrations, particularly over her inability to reach State House, the centre of power.

At one point, Jumwa claimed she had been denied a chance to challenge Kilifi Governor Gideon Mung’aro and was allegedly promised a Cabinet slot if Ruto wins a second term, which she declined.

Jumwa has made dramatic shifts between political parties within a few months. Last year, she ditched UDA for Speaker Amason Kingi’s Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) but rejoined the ruling party after Ruto ordered Kingi to freeze his party’s operations and focus on the presidential campaign under UDA.

Ruto received Jumwa back into UDA, hoping to advance the party’s transformation agenda at the Coast and claim the political turf of the late ODM leader Raila Odinga.

Ruto remarked on social media: “Received former Cabinet Secretary Aisha Jumwa back to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) at State House, Mombasa. I look forward to working with her to advance the party transformation agenda at the Coast and across the country.

“We remain committed to uniting leaders and Kenyans around our shared vision of a united, inclusive and prosperous Kenya. Usawa ni Sawa, Mbele Pamoja.”

Political analyst and Mombasa lawyer Yusuf Aboubakar said Jumwa could have negotiated terms for her return to UDA, having claimed during her departure that she had been sidelined and could not reach the president. He added that the president’s team regards her as an asset in the campaign.

“I think her grievances have been addressed and the broad-based team has also changed tune on zoning of certain areas at the Coast. Maybe Jumwa will have a chance to vie for governorship or has been promised a position. She may have been promised to vie on a UDA ticket or it is also possible to be governor Mung’aro’s running mate,” he argued.

Pwani University don Prof Hassan Mwakimako said Jumwa has been an influential figure in Coast politics because of her gift of gab, or ability to sway the political stage and captivate crowds.

He said that, like many other politicians, Jumwa was a victim of the UDA-ODM political marriage as Ruto sought ODM votes at the Coast, but that she could have clinched a favourable deal for her return to UDA.

“I think Jumwa was persuaded by the broad-based team, weighed her options and returned to UDA,” he stated.

He noted that Jumwa stood little chance in the united opposition, which is crowded with many political parties, and hence decided to go back to familiar territory.

He argued that the question of resources, a possible promise of a plum government job, or room to contest on either the UDA or ODM ticket could have attracted the vocal politician back to her former party.