Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja has ditched President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party and declared her intention to contest the Nakuru gubernatorial seat on a Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) ticket in the 2027 General Election.
Karanja announced her political shift on Friday, October 9, during a forum in Nakuru County, saying she had listened to the concerns of her supporters, who want her to seek the county’s top leadership position.
The senator also launched a scathing attack on the Kenya Kwanza administration, accusing it of failing to fulfil the expectations of Kenyans who voted it into power in the 2022 General Election.
She said her decision to leave UDA was informed by the sentiments of voters who had hoped for better economic conditions and improved service delivery under the current administration.
“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,” Karanja said.
The senator affirmed that her political future now lay with DCP, using her green outfit and accessories to signal her new party allegiance.
“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 declared.
Karanja further questioned President Ruto’s understanding of the economic difficulties facing ordinary Kenyans, pointing to rising milk prices as an example of the growing cost of living.
“I can see that our president does not understand the needs of the people. The president does not see ahead. Recently I went to the supermarket and found the prices of milk have risen. It is very shameful for Kenya to lack milk,” she said.
The senator, who joined UDA in January 2022, won the Nakuru senatorial seat on the ruling party’s ticket in the August 2022 elections. Her departure sets the stage for a potential contest against other aspirants seeking to succeed the county’s current leadership.
Her announcement comes amid political realignments ahead of the 2027 polls, with leaders reassessing their party affiliations and electoral ambitions.
Karanja’s move follows Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba’s decision to quit UDA on Thursday, October 8. Wamuchomba announced that she would neither seek an elective seat nor campaign for the ruling party, citing what she described as a lack of respect for other communities among some UDA leaders.
She also criticised Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale over remarks she said targeted the Mount Kenya community.
