Looming trouble in Ruto’s UDA as cracks open up

Political tension is simmering within President William Ruto’s UDA, threatening to fracture the ruling party.

Key allies of the President, including senior party officials, have publicly clashed, with some expressing dissatisfaction with the party’s direction and the conduct of fellow officials.

The latest sign of discord came from the chairperson and Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire, who accused senior government officials of undermining her.

Her outburst is the latest in a series of internal disputes rattling the party and the Kenya Kwanza government.

Sources indicate that Mbarire was infuriated by Deputy President Kithure Kindiki’s activities in Embu county, which were reportedly held without her involvement.

Ruto faces fierce opposition from his former Deputy Rigathi Gachagua, who has vowed to rally Mt Kenya voters against his reelection bid.

On Wednesday, Kindiki met Mbarire and a group of leaders from the county at his Karen residence in Nairobi, where the tension between the two leaders was reportedly discussed.

Later, the DP trooped to Embu for the Macadamia conference, where he denied reports of his alleged fallout with Mbarire.

"There is no problem whatsoever between me and Governor Cecily Mbarire or any other leader in Embu county," Kindiki said.

Reflecting growing internal divisions, Senate Majority Whip Boni Khalwale claimed the party is "in a spin," pointing to a pattern of leadership changes intended to sideline founding members.

He cited how Mbarire was elevated to the position of national chairperson and Cleophas Malala plucked from ANC to become the secretary general,.

“Ostensibly, this was to get rid of [former chair] Muthama and teach me a lesson. Both of us were founding members. UDA is now in a spin! Governor Mbarire, hivyo ndiyo kunaendanga [that’s how it goes]. Don’t cry, just move on,” Khalwale said.

The rifts have widened further, with Nyali MP Mohamed Ali threatening to quit UDA and contest the Mombasa governor seat as an independent candidate, after falling out with secretary general Hassan Omar.

“If he [Hassan Omar] continues to treat the party like his personal property, we will have no choice but to decamp,” Ali warned during a public rally in April.

However, UDA national organising secretary Vincent Musau and Mwala MP, denied any internal fallout.

“As far as I know, no NEC member has raised issues about government officials. If that matter comes before NEC, I’ll inform you. For now, it hasn’t been discussed," he said.

Last week, Governor Mbarire accused unnamed government operatives of scheming to undermine her authority in Embu.

“I’ve started seeing people plotting against me—people in the very government I serve,” she said. “Officers from Nairobi are coming to Embu to hold secret night meetings, trying to fight elected leaders. They don’t respect us," she said.

"They pretend to understand Embu politics better than us, yet we’re the ones on the ground defending this government. If they keep pushing, I’ll expose them. Don’t test me. Don’t bring me fights from Nairobi."

Her comments came days after Kindiki’s unannounced visit to Embu, which local leaders say bypassed the governor's office.

The feud between the two dates back to January, when Kindiki publicly rebuked Mbarire following President Ruto’s heckling by residents during a visit late last year.

“I spoke to my sister, Governor Mbarire, not as DP but as a peer,” Kindiki said. “How can the President be heckled in your backyard while you’re the UDA chair and governor? Why should you still be in that position?”

Tensions within UDA also played out during a recent public event in Siakago, Mbeere North, where Public Service CS Geoffrey Ruku allegedly pushed for a stalled road project.

In response, Kindiki sharply criticised him, accusing him of inciting the public instead of finding solutions within the government.

“You are now part of Cabinet. You should not be inciting the public with complaints,” Kindiki said. “You should be offering solutions within Cabinet, which is the government’s top decision-making body.”

Kindiki later denied the remarks were aimed at Ruku, claiming his comments were misinterpreted and actually targeted a former CS from the region.

“I’ve seen a desperate, malicious twist implying I lectured my friend, CS Geoffrey Ruku. That’s false,” Kindiki wrote on social media.

“My remarks were about former leaders from the region who showed similar behaviour. Government works on the principle of collective responsibility."