Mithika Linturi, the former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary, has formally resigned from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), criticizing the party’s moral decline and accusing it of abandoning the principles it was founded upon. In a letter addressed to UDA Secretary-General Hassan Omar and the Registrar of Political Parties, Linturi condemned the party for what he described as “corruption, abductions, excessive taxation, and the murder of youth who once believed in its ideals.”
“I do not wish, nor would I ever wish, that any Kenyan would belong to a party that tolerates corruption, abduction, and brutal murder of our young people,” Linturi stated, pointing to what he called a complete disregard for the Constitution and the rule of law. “A party that does not listen to the people cannot survive,” he added.
Linturi’s resignation comes after a series of dramatic exits from the ruling party. The most high-profile defection occurred just days earlier when former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua also resigned, accusing UDA of leading the country astray and wasting a critical moment for progress.
“The party has exhausted and wasted a Kenyan moment to take off economically, socially, and politically,” Gachagua wrote in his resignation letter, labelling the promises made by the party a “litany of lies.” Both men, long-time allies of President William Ruto, have now joined forces with other politicians who have distanced themselves from the current government.
The new opposition group includes familiar names like Martha Karua of the People’s Liberation Party, Kalonzo Musyoka from Wiper, and Eugene Wamalwa of DAP-Kenya. Their alliance, dubbed by some as the political “Avengers,” has vowed to challenge Ruto’s leadership. Yet, despite their shared discontent with the ruling party, the group still faces one significant hurdle: determining a single candidate to unite them in a bid for the presidency.
For now, Linturi’s resignation highlights the growing disillusionment within Kenya’s political elite and signals deeper divisions within UDA. As defections continue to mount, the country watches to see how the opposition will position itself in the run-up to the next general election.
