Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi has spoken after the Democratic Party of Kenya, which he was previously associated with, initiated an exit from the Kenya Kwanza coalition.
Speaking on Wednesday, March 13, Muturi said that he was not involved in the decision, as the law prohibits appointed state officers from holding political party positions.
"As you know, the Constitution of Kenya provides that any appointed state officer shall not hold any office in a political party. Therefore, as has been stated, for me to take up an appointive position as the Attorney General, I had to resign as the leader of the party.
"I do not participate in the activities of the party in any of its organs because it would be a violation of the Constitution," he stated.
Muturi further explained that the Democratic Party was under no obligation to consult him before making the move to leave Kenya Kwanza.
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"The party doesn't have to inform me about the activities that they are doing because they do the normal meetings and are at liberty to make whatever decision they feel is in the best interest of the party.
"Therefore, they did not have to inform me about the decision to write to the Registrar of Political Parties about their desire to exit the coalition," he added.
In a letter dated Friday, March 7, and addressed to the Kenya Kwanza Coalition Secretariat, the Democratic Party cited prevailing political developments as the reason for its departure.
"Kindly take notice that our stay in Kenya Kwanza Coalition is no longer tenable due to the prevailing political developments," the letter reads.
The letter further states that the party is giving a 30-day notice to formally exit the coalition, as stipulated in the coalition agreement.
"Democratic Party of Kenya, vide this letter, hereby gives a thirty (30) day notice to exit the Coalition as stipulated in the Termination Clause (8) in the Coalition Agreement," it adds.
The Kenya Kwanza coalition, led by President William Ruto, was established in the lead-up to the 2022 general elections
Initially, Kenya Kwanza was formed by the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), the Amani National Congress (ANC) and the Forum for the Restoration of Democracy–Kenya (FORD–Kenya).
However, by April 2022, the coalition had expanded to include several more political parties, increasing its constituent members to twelve.
The new entrants included the Economic Freedom Party (EFP), The Service Party (TSP), United Democratic Movement (UDM), Farmers Party (FP) and Devolution Party of Kenya (DPK).
Others were Chama Cha Kazi (CCK), Maendeleo Chap Chap Party (MCC), the United Party of Independent Alliance (UPIA) and the Democratic Party (DP) which is presently seeking its exit.
