NAKURU, County—Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja has announced her departure from President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA), declaring her intention to contest the 2027 gubernatorial election on a Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) ticket.
Karanja made the announcement on Friday, October 9, during a forum in Nakuru County, where she said she had listened to her supporters before deciding to seek the county’s top seat under the opposition party.
The senator signalled her political shift by wearing green, the colour associated with DCP, and declared that she would pursue the governorship under the party.
“You can see I have today dressed in green. My clothes and even my ring are all green, and from today I will vie for that seat under DCP,” she said.
Karanja also criticised the Kenya Kwanza administration, arguing that the government had failed to meet the expectations of Kenyans who voted it into office in the 2022 General Election.
She pointed to the rising cost of basic commodities, including milk, as an example of the economic pressures facing households.
“I want to tell my party leader that I have heard the ground, and people have told me that they had a lot of expectations from this administration. They woke up early to elect this government, but unfortunately they did not meet their expectations,” she said.
Karanja joined UDA in January 2022 and was elected Nakuru senator in the August 2022 General Election on the ruling party’s ticket. Her latest announcement marks a change in political alignment as she prepares to challenge for the governorship in 2027.
Her declaration comes amid renewed political movement within UDA as leaders reconsider their affiliations and future electoral plans ahead of the next General Election.
On Thursday, Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba also announced her departure from UDA, saying she would neither seek an elective seat nor campaign for the ruling party.
Wamuchomba cited what she described as a lack of respect for other communities among some UDA leaders, singling out Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale over remarks she said targeted the Mount Kenya community.
The two announcements add to the political developments unfolding ahead of the 2027 polls, as leaders weigh their party loyalties, regional support and electoral ambitions.
