Ganze lawmaker Kazungu dumps PAA for Ruto party

Pamoja African Alliance (PAA) party Secretary General and Ganze MP Kenneth Kazungu has defected to the ruling party. This comes as the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) continues to make inroads in the Coast region ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Speaking in Kilifi during an event attended by President William Ruto’s close allies, including Cabinet Secretary Salim Mvurya, Youth Principal Secretary Jacob Fikirini, and Kilifi North MP Owen Baya, Mr Kazungu admitted that there is pressure for Kenya Kwanza affiliate parties to consolidate.

“Within Kenya Kwanza, there are many other parties. The President called us and explained his vision. He doesn’t want to face the challenge of reconciling different groups come 2027; he wants the region to speak with one voice from within one party,” said the MP after being donned with a yellow UDA cap to signal his defection.

Just a month ago, Mr Kazungu dismissed claims that PAA, which is led by Senate Speaker Amason Kingi, would be dissolved and absorbed by UDA, just like Musalia Mudavadi’s Amani National Congress (ANC).

At that time, he alleged that UDA members within Kilifi were plotting to interfere with PAA and push for its dissolution, calling it a major threat to Coastal unity.
However, having been one of the strongest voices against the dissolution, his shift suggests that the resistance to preserve PAA as a distinct Coastal party may have collapsed.

Gender CS Aisha Jumwa, who had earlier announced a move to PAA, has been heavily engaging in UDA functions. Her social media activity and attendance at grassroots meetings show her promoting UDA instead of her new party to which she had started recruiting members.

Mr Baya, who led the event, urged Mr Kazungu to hit the ground running and ensure Ganze constituency registers a record number of UDA members.

Receiving the Ganze MP, CS Mvurya urged Coast residents to reject divisive politics. He emphasised that the region now holds a significant "seat at the table" regarding national development and policy discussions.

"We do not want opposition politics because [this] is the first time we are at the table. From Kilifi to Mokowe and Vanga to Kiunga there is evidence of the government," he said.

Politician Victor Mwaganda called on leaders to provide a clear roadmap for the 2027 lineup, especially regarding proposed coalitions that might cause confusion at the grassroots.

“If it is a broad-based government, tell us early who our leaders are. We need to know who our gubernatorial candidate is as we conduct our registrations on the ground,” Mwaganda said.

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