Nairobi, Kenya – May 12, 2025: Six months after his impeachment, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has officially severed ties with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.
Gachagua, who was ousted from office on October 18, 2024, following a fallout with President Ruto, announced his resignation in a scathing letter to UDA’s Secretary-General. Shared across his social media platforms, the letter expressed deep disillusionment with the ruling party, which he accused of betraying its promises and failing to deliver meaningful change to Kenyans.
Disillusionment with UDA’s Governance
In his statement, Gachagua criticized UDA’s leadership, calling it a “retrogressive and dangerous political experiment.” He accused the party of abandoning its campaign pledges to champion justice, economic growth, and social reforms.
“UDA has squandered a critical moment in Kenya’s history—a moment to lift the country economically, socially, and politically. Instead, it has devolved into a governance failure marked by unkept promises and retrogressive policies,” Gachagua wrote.
He further described UDA’s governance approach as a “sinusoidal malignancy” that has eroded public trust and undermined Kenya’s progress.
Failed Policies and Suppressed Freedoms
Gachagua highlighted several areas of concern, including the competency-based education curriculum (CBC) and the university funding model, both of which he labeled as “poorly planned and corrupt.”
Additionally, he condemned the rising cases of abductions targeting government critics, accusing the UDA-led government of suppressing democratic freedoms.
“This administration has abandoned Kenyans and left them to fend for themselves. It’s a betrayal of the trust millions of us placed in them,” he added.
Building a New Opposition
Since his impeachment, Gachagua has aligned himself with a coalition of political leaders forming a new opposition against the Kenya Kwanza administration. Key figures in this alliance include Martha Karua of the People’s Liberation Party, Kalonzo Musyoka of Wiper, and Eugene Wamalwa of DAP-Kenya.
The leaders have pledged to rally Kenyans against the current government’s policies and mobilize support for a united challenge to President Ruto in the 2027 elections.
Looking Ahead to 2027
As Kenya’s political landscape evolves, Gachagua and his allies are positioning themselves as key players in the opposition, promising to provide an alternative vision for the country. While the path to 2027 remains uncertain, their growing coalition signals a renewed focus on accountability and reform.
