- Kieni MP Njoroge Wainaina announced he was leaving the ruling UDA party and joining the Ufanisi Kenya Party
- Wainaina described the Ufanisi Kenya Party as a national party and declared himself its leader, positioning himself as the second known party leader in Nyeri
- His exit adds to a growing wave of Mt Kenya politicians formally distancing themselves from UDA ahead of the 2027 General Election
Nancy Odindo is a current affairs writer at Tuko.co.ke (joined in 2023). She has one year of experience in print and more than five years in digital media.
Kieni Member of Parliament Njoroge Wainaina has formally walked out of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), announcing his new political home as the Ufanisi Kenya Party during a gathering held in Nyeri county on Saturday, October 17, 2026.
Source: Facebook
Wainaina, who secured his seat on a UDA ticket in 2022, made the announcement at an event held in his Kieni Constituency.
The MP declared he had taken the bold step of founding and joining the Ufanisi Kenya Party, which he described as a national outfit rather than a regional vehicle.
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"I have taken the bold step, and the Ufanisi Kenya Party is not made for Nyeri only. It is a national party. I am the second known party leader in Nyeri county after DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua," Wainaina said at the event.
The legislator drew on a colourful metaphor to explain his move, referencing a common saying about attending a wedding in another person's vehicle.
"Because of the grace of God, and because we have severally been reminded that we went to a wedding with someone else's vehicle, I have formed my 504. It will carry all the residents of Kieni," he said.
Mt Kenya UDA exodus widens ahead of 2027 polls
Wainaina's departure is the latest in a string of high-profile defections from UDA among politicians drawn from the Mt. Kenya region as the 2027 General Election approaches.
Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba announced she is leaving UDA, while Gatundu South MP Gabriel Kagombe cited rising public hostility toward the ruling party in the region as the reason for his own exit.
Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro similarly repositioned himself, aligning with the People's Party of Kenya (PPK) while articulating broader political ambitions beyond the UDA framework.
At the county level, Murang'a governor Irungu Kang'ata, Nyandarua's Kiarie Badilisha, and Kiambu's Kimani Wamatangi publicly indicated that they would not remain committed to UDA and would contest the 2027 election on other platforms.
The accelerating pace of defections signals mounting political pressure on President William Ruto's party in a region that was central to his 2022 election victory.
Source: TUKO.co.ke
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