Governor Irungu Kang’ata Announces He Will Quit UDA Ahead of 2027 Elections

Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata has announced that he will not seek re-election on the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party ticket during the 2027 General Election, marking a major political shift in the Mount Kenya region.

Speaking during a press briefing on Sunday, May 3, Kang’ata revealed that he had made the decision after a long period of reflection, consultations, and growing pressure both from within and outside the ruling party.

The governor explained that he had also held a frank and open discussion with President William Ruto regarding the matter, but the talks did not fully resolve the differences between them.

According to Kang’ata, the decision was not rushed but was reached after carefully evaluating the political direction of the party and the changing political environment in the country.

He stated that despite remaining respectful to the president and the party leadership, he felt it was necessary to chart a different political path ahead of the next elections.

“After careful reflection, I wish to state that come 2027, I will not defend my seat on the current party ticket,” Kang’ata said during the press conference, confirming that he plans to leave the ruling UDA party before the next polls.

The Murang’a governor, however, clarified that he is not planning to contest for a higher national office. He dismissed speculation that he could be preparing a presidential or deputy presidential bid in 2027, insisting that his main focus remains serving the people of Murang’a County.

“I do not intend to become the President of Kenya, nor do I want to become the Deputy President of this country. Mine is only to defend my Murang’a seat,” he explained.

Kang’ata further noted that he will announce the political party or platform he intends to use for his re-election campaign at a later stage.

Although he did not reveal his next political destination, he hinted that his future plans would become clear as the 2027 political season continues to take shape.

Even as he announced his planned exit from UDA, the governor maintained that he still remains a loyal member of the party for now.

He assured supporters that he would continue supporting President Ruto’s administration and cooperating with the national government until the end of the current term.

“I will remain loyal to the President and also to the party through the remainder of this term,” Kang’ata stated.

The governor also disclosed that he had recently faced mounting pressure during President Ruto’s development tours in Murang’a County, where many leaders and residents reportedly wanted him to publicly declare his political position and future plans.

Kang’ata admitted that disagreements over political strategy, leadership approaches, and the direction of the party played a role in influencing his decision to seek re-election through a different political vehicle.

He suggested that there were growing differences on how politics in the Mount Kenya region should be handled ahead of the next election cycle.

His announcement came only hours after he accompanied President Ruto to a church service in Murang’a before attending several public events where the Head of State launched and commissioned different development projects across the county.

The move is likely to spark fresh political debate within the Mount Kenya region, which has recently witnessed growing political realignments and shifting loyalties among leaders allied to the president.

In recent months, several politicians from the region have been distancing themselves from UDA and exploring alternative political alliances as preparations for the 2027 elections slowly begin.

Kang’ata now becomes one of the first senior leaders from the Mount Kenya region to publicly declare that he will not use the UDA party ticket in the next General Election, a move that could influence other politicians in the region to reconsider their political future.

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