Senator Quits UDA, Announces Governor Bid on DCP Ticket

Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja has announced plans to contest the Nakuru gubernatorial seat on the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) ticket, ditching the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

Speaking on Friday, October 9, Karanja said she recognised her supporters as the people who gave her the mandate to serve in the Senate. 

She emphasised that her supporters were responsible for her election, noting that even her party leader understood where her political mandate came from.

"I know very well that you people are my employers. You are my bosses. Even if I went to the Senate, my party leader knows very well who employed me. It is you people who employed me," she said.

Karanja also used her dressing to signal her intended political realignment, appearing in green attire as she declared her plan to seek the governor's seat under the DCP party.

"You can see I have dressed in green today. My clothes and even my ring are all green; I will vie for that seat (governorship) under DCP," she added.

This comes days after former Starehe Member of Parliament Bishop Margaret Wanjiru explained her decision to leave the UDA Party. 

Speaking on Tuesday, September 22, Bishop Wanjiru said her decision to quit UDA was not solely based on how she was treated but on broader challenges facing Kenyans.

She argued that farmers, the people in the transport sector, preachers, and businesspeople are all struggling under the current administration. 

"The things they have done in this country are unbecoming. We cannot pray for you, cleanse you, promote you, and market you, and then you come and destroy us; it’s not acceptable. 

"People are crying in this country, farmers are crying, people in the transport sector are crying, we preachers are crying, business people are crying, the economy is shrinking every day, and you want us to laugh about it?" she posed. 

Bishop Wanjiru warned President William Ruto that the people who helped him get power can also vote him out of office in the 2027 General Election. 

"If we had the capacity and the ability to bring you to power, we still have the capacity to get you out of power," said Bishop Wanjiru. 

Further, Bishop Wanjiru accused the current administration of deception, saying she was promised a Cabinet Secretary position but was not appointed.

"Bringing all those votes, they said I would be given a CS position. But they didn’t. That is deception," said Wanjiru.