When the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) sought to conquer the populous Mt Kenya region, then Murang’a Senator Irungu Kang'ata was among the first foot soldiers who campaigned for the party's endorsement after falling out with then ruling Jubilee Party.
Dr Kang'ata proceeded to become the county boss under UDA of President William Ruto in the 2022 polls. UDA swept a majority of elective seats in the region, with the President getting close to three million votes.
Four years later, after breaking away from the Jubilee Party, Governor Kang’ata is back, this time defying President Ruto's ideologies and his party.
Speaking in Nairobi on Sunday, the governor said he is tired of the lies that UDA has been telling Kenyans, including what he termed as being forced to make public declaration that he will support the President’s re-election.
"My foremost responsibility is to the people who entrusted me with leadership. That mandate requires independent judgment, candour, and decisions that safeguard both their immediate interests and long-term prosperity. I have shared my views openly within the party and engaged in candid discussions at the highest level. While those engagements have been respectful, we have not reached full convergence," Dr Kang’ata said.
He said that in the recent tour of President Ruto to the region, some of the MPs forced him to declare that he was behind Ruto’s re-election bid.
President William Ruto with Murang'a Governor Irungu Kang'ata at Njiiri High School in Murang'a on May 3, 2026.
Photo credit: Pool
“I can’t understand what kind of political strategy is that... I felt and I thought that because I'm a member of the party, I look for the people who are concerned and I told them that I think we have a problem with this political strategy. Nothing was done but when they come to Murang'a they want to push me to endorse Ruto’s two term and I told them no,” he said.
The governor, who was present during President Ruto’s visit to Murang'a on Sunday, said he was annoyed by the rumours being spread by leaders allied to the President when he told them that he was sick and was unlikely to accompany the President.
Owing to what he termed as pressure from Ruto's inner cycle to declare his stand ahead of the 2027 general election, the governor announced that his time in UDA is over.
"In light of this, and after careful reflection, I wish to state that when the appropriate time comes, I will not seek to defend my seat on the party's ticket. I will, at a later stage, communicate the platform through which I will present myself to the electorate," Dr Kang'ata.
He also revealed that his decision has been informed by the persecution of leaders from Mt Kenya region.
Accordingly, Dr Kang'ata said that he is yet to decide his next move but stated that he is not happy with the political witch-hunt in Mt Kenya region, saying that more leaders are expected to follow his footsteps.
Murang’a County Governor Irungu Kang’ata addresses the media in Nairobi on May 3, 2026.
Photo credit: Dennis Onsongo | Nation Media Group
"I will continue to serve diligently in my current capacity and to cooperate with the national government in delivering development to our people. I will remain loyal to the party and to the President through the remainder of this term, up to the 2027 general election. As we move forward, my focus remains unchanged: to serve the people faithfully, to uphold respectful politics, and to champion a policy direction that prioritises production, opportunity, and dignity for all Kenyans,” he said.
This new development is a blow to President Ruto, who has reiterated that the region is still behind him despite the growing change of party loyalty among the elected leaders who were once behind him.
