Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata has announced that he will not seek re-election under the United Democratic Alliance party ticket in the 2027 General Election, marking a major political shift in the Mount Kenya region.
Speaking during a press conference on Sunday, May 3, Kang’ata said his decision came after a long period of reflection, internal party discussions, and pressure from both within and outside the party.
He explained that there had been efforts to solve differences within the party, but those efforts did not fully succeed.
The governor also revealed that he had a direct and honest conversation with President William Ruto before making the decision. According to Kang’ata, the discussion was candid, but the two did not fully agree on the way forward politically.
He stated clearly that in 2027, he will not defend his Murang’a gubernatorial seat using the current party ticket. While confirming that he is leaving UDA for the next election, he said he will announce the political platform he plans to use at a later date.
Kang’ata dismissed speculation that he could be preparing to run for a bigger national office such as president or deputy president. He said his focus remains firmly on Murang’a County and serving its people.
He made it clear that he has no plans to contest for the presidency or the deputy presidency, saying his only goal is to defend his seat as governor and continue leading Murang’a.
Despite his decision to leave the party in 2027, Kang’ata said he remains loyal to both President Ruto and UDA for the rest of the current term. He noted that he would continue working closely with the national government and maintain discipline within the party until the end of his mandate.
The governor also said he had been under pressure during President Ruto’s recent tours of Murang’a to publicly state his political position. He explained that different views on party strategy and direction played a big role in his final decision.
Interestingly, the announcement came only hours after Kang’ata accompanied President Ruto to a church service in Murang’a and later attended events where the president commissioned several development projects in the county.
His statement comes at a sensitive political moment, especially in the Mount Kenya region, where several leaders have been rethinking their loyalty to UDA. While many have quietly shifted their political positions, Kang’ata has now become the first senior leader from the region to publicly declare that he will seek re-election outside President Ruto’s party.
His move is expected to attract strong political attention as the country slowly begins preparations for the 2027 elections.
