Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu has dismissed calls for his resignation from the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA), asserting that his criticism of President William Ruto does not equate to disloyalty to the party.
Speaking on a televised political panel, Senator Nyutu defended his recent remarks questioning the government's approach to national protests and its controversial use of anti-terrorism laws.
Some of his colleagues had demanded that he quit the party for dissenting publicly, but Nyutu remained defiant.
“Nobody will tell me how to think or how to present my thoughts,” said the Senator. “President Ruto is not the party. I am a member of UDA by right, and I’ll leave when I want, not when anyone tells me.”
Citing President Ruto’s own political journey, Nyutu reminded critics that Ruto remained in Jubilee even while opposing former President Uhuru Kenyatta from 2018 to 2022.
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“He didn’t resign as Deputy President or as a member of Jubilee. So why should I resign for raising concerns?” he asked.
Nyutu also weighed in on the ongoing national uproar over the charging of arrested protesters with terrorism-related offenses, particularly following the burning of Kikuyu Law Courts during demonstrations.
While he condemned criminal acts during the protests, Nyutu warned against misusing the Prevention of Terrorism Act, originally intended to combat mass-casualty terror threats like the 1998 Nairobi bombing.
“We must be very careful not to treat all acts of vandalism or arson as terrorism. That law was meant to deal with large-scale threats, not petty criminals or frustrated youth in protests,” Nyutu argued.
He questioned the selective enforcement of the law, pointing out that while some demonstrators had been charged with terrorism, similar incidents, like the torching of Mwea Police Station, had not attracted similar legal treatment.
“Criticizing the President is not betrayal,” said Nyutu. “We need to ensure laws meant to deal with terrorism aren’t weaponized against citizens exercising their right to protest.”
The Gachagua ally has criticized the president’s decisions on several occasions, including when President Ruto alleged that Gachagua had demanded Ksh 10 billion to exit the government.
