Businessman James Mbaluka addresses mourners at Makutano Village in Makueni County on August 2, 2025. The former ally of President William Ruto has denounced him publicly.
A key ally of President William Ruto in the Ukambani region has denounced him and hinted at working with Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka and former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua.
Businessman James Mbaluka—who President Ruto had nominated for the role of Health Cabinet Assistant Secretary before the courts halted the appointment—has accused the Head of State of mismanaging the country and reneging on his promises to improve the lives of Kenyans.
“Nothing is more painful than campaigning on a certain platform and doing the exact opposite once entrusted with power. I was at the center of President Ruto’s campaign in Makueni County.
"We promised to empower youth and women through the bottom-up economic transformation agenda, but we lied to them. Today, they are worse off under the current administration,” Mr Mbaluka said at Makutano Village in Makueni County on Saturday.
Mr Mbaluka, who was the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate for Kibwezi West Constituency in the 2022 elections, made the remarks during the burial of Garshon Mutisya Mwove—a young man fatally shot by police during the June 25 anti-government protests in Emali Township, Makueni.
The 33-year-old was survived by a widow, son, two sisters, and his mother.
As mourners, especially youth condemned President Ruto for what they termed as state-sponsored abductions, torture and killings of protestors, Mr Mbaluka publicly apologised for helping mobilise support for the President in the Ukambani region.
“It is painful to lie to the electorate. I want to start by apologising,” he said, receiving loud cheers from mourners.
He criticised the youth and women empowerment programmes being championed by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki, dismissing them as a mockery of the bottom-up agenda he once campaigned on.
During a visit to Makueni County last year, Mwala MP Vincent Musyoka had pleaded with the President to appoint both Mr Mbaluka and former Machakos Town MP Victor Munyaka.
However, President Ruto publicly rebuffed the request, stating that his focus was on creating employment for the millions of jobless youth across the country.
President William Ruto addresses wananchi in Kagumo town, Kirinyaga, during a development tour of the county.
Similar defection
Mr Mbaluka's defection mirrors similar moves by other former allies of President Ruto in Ukambani, including Mr Munyaka and educationist Willie Malile.
Mr Malile recently rejected an appointment to the board of Rongo University by Education Cabinet Secretary Julius Ogamba, citing his disassociation from the Ruto administration.
The three have since vowed to campaign against the President and thrown their support behind Mr Musyoka and Mr Gachagua.
Mr Mbaluka’s move comes at a time when President Ruto is intensifying efforts to shore up support in the Ukambani region.
He has hosted grassroots leaders, MCAs, and clergy from the region, which boasts nearly 1.7 million votes.
Ahead of his scheduled development tour in August, the President has launched ambitious rural electrification and affordable housing projects, along with renewed promises for road and infrastructure improvements.
While touring Kitui, Machakos and Makueni counties in June, Interior Cabinet Secretary Prof Kindiki announced plans to boost the region’s economy by offering incentives to farmers growing fruits and pulses like pigeon peas—crops that thrive in the region but have been neglected by past governments.
However, Mr Musyoka has dismissed the President’s efforts to win over the region.
Wiper party leader Kalonzo Musyoka.
Having declared his 2027 State House bid, Mr Musyoka views the wave of defections from Ruto's camp as positive momentum for his campaign. His allies have stepped up efforts to present him as the opposition’s best hope in the next general election.
“A close look at the opposition luminaries shows that it is only Mr Musyoka who has no blemish,” said Makueni Governor Mutula Kilonzo Jnr during the Makutano funeral, which was also attended by Makueni Senator Daniel Maanzo.
However, Mr Kilonzo Jnr’s predecessor Prof Kivutha Kibwana cautioned that Mr Musyoka risks losing the presidential flagbearer slot within the opposition due to his perceived lack of full commitment to the cause.
He accused the Wiper leader of failing to effectively rally Ukambani residents to actively participate in the anti-government protests.
“How come there are no protests in Kitui County? If someone wants to lead this country, they will be asked: how come your own backyard is not united in agitating for justice? We must stop creating the impression that the protests are only happening in Machakos and Makueni.
"Mr Kilonzo Jnr should speak to Kitui Governor Julius Malombe so that the entire Ukambani region participates. This is very important—it influences the outcome of power-sharing negotiations,” said Prof Kibwana.
