Gachagua quits UDA, blasts Ruto over broken promises

By Newsflash Reporter

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has officially resigned from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), marking a dramatic fallout with President William Ruto and the ruling party. The resignation comes ahead of the anticipated launch of Gachagua’s new political outfit.

In a letter dated Monday, May 12, Gachagua declared his immediate exit from UDA, citing a complete departure from the party’s founding vision and the Kenya Kwanza manifesto.

“By a copy of this letter, you are notified that I have officially resigned from the UDA Party with immediate effect,” the former deputy president wrote.

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Gachagua, once Ruto’s closest ally, accused the UDA-led administration of abandoning key promises made to the public, including national unity, economic inclusion, and justice. He described the current leadership approach as a “retrogressive philosophy” that has replaced hope with disillusionment.

He also criticized the government’s five-pillar development plan—covering agriculture, MSMEs, housing, healthcare, and the digital economy—as hollow initiatives that have become “centres of crime with no tangible gains.”

The resignation letter underscores Gachagua’s growing frustration with Ruto’s administration, particularly after he was stripped of his role as UDA deputy party leader earlier this year. In January, the party’s National Executive Committee replaced him with Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki. Though Gachagua was impeached in October 2024, his formal exit from the party had not been made until now.

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Gachagua’s departure comes amid lingering constitutional uncertainty over his status as Deputy President. A Court of Appeal ruling on Friday, May 9, invalidated earlier proceedings against him, stating that Deputy Chief Justice Philomena Mwilu overstepped her mandate by forming a judicial bench on the matter—a responsibility reserved for the Chief Justice.

As Gachagua distances himself from UDA, political observers expect a realignment in the country’s power dynamics, especially with his plan to unveil a new political formation in the coming days.