Another UDA Politician Quits to Join Gachagua’s Camp
Former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi has officially resigned from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), the ruling party in Kenya.
In a strongly worded statement released on Wednesday, Linturi explained that he can no longer be part of a party that, in his view, allows corruption, forced disappearances, and imposes heavy taxes on ordinary Kenyans.
According to him, UDA has strayed far from its core principles and has lost the moral authority to be called a political party.
Linturi criticized the party for neglecting its mission, values, and objectives. He accused UDA of ignoring the needs of the people and failing to uphold the Constitution and rule of law.
“For the past two years, the party has shown open disrespect to the citizens and the Republic of Kenya,” he said.
“I would never want to be associated with a political outfit that goes against its founding ideals, tolerates graft, allows the killing of our youth, disrespects women and children, overburdens Kenyans with taxes, and refuses to listen to the voices of the people.”
He added, “It is with this understanding that I, Mithika Linturi, a loyal Kenyan, officially resign from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) effective immediately.”
Linturi’s departure marks the end of his three-year association with the party. He had joined UDA in February 2022 and used the party’s ticket to vie for the Meru governor seat.
Although he lost the election to Kawira Mwangaza, who was later impeached, Linturi was appointed Cabinet Secretary for Agriculture.
However, his time in government was cut short in May 2024 after he was implicated in the controversial fertiliser scandal.
Now, Linturi is the latest high-profile leader to leave UDA, joining former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, who also resigned from the party on Tuesday, May 13.
Gachagua said the party had missed a golden opportunity to improve the country’s economy, social structures, and political stability.
In his resignation statement, he wrote, “The party has exhausted and wasted a Kenyan moment to take off economically, socially, and politically,” expressing his disappointment with the leadership and the direction UDA has taken.
His move comes amid rising talk about his future in politics, and he is expected to launch a new political party on Thursday, May 15.
The growing number of defections, especially from senior leaders, is a sign of deepening cracks within the ruling party. Political analysts believe this could reshape Kenya’s political landscape ahead of the next elections.
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