Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata has explained his decision not to seek a second term on the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket, citing shifting political dynamics and pressure within the party, which he says have made it difficult to maintain his original political strategy.
Speaking during an interview on Citizen TV on Sunday, Kang’ata said his assessment of the current political direction in his region had led him to conclude that UDA’s long-term outlook is uncertain in Mt Kenya.
“I have seen how the politics is going on, and I think I am now convinced it will not end well for the UDA party, at least in my region,” Kang’ata said.
The governor, who was elected on a UDA ticket in 2022, said his initial approach in office was to remain largely silent on political matters and focus on service delivery.
However, he noted that the evolving political environment had made it increasingly difficult to maintain that position.
“When I became a governor, my political strategy was to be quiet, to concentrate on my mandate,” he said.
Kang’ata further explained that as political tensions and expectations rise within party structures, leaders often find themselves compelled to take public positions, even when they prefer to stay focused on development work.
“It reaches a stage when the president is in Murang’a, you are put into a corner where you have to say something, you are being nudged to make a choice to announce your statement, and if you don’t, people start saying you are not a good person,” he added.
His remarks come amid growing political realignments in the Mt Kenya region, where leaders have recently been reassessing their affiliations and influence within the ruling party.
Kang’ata’s comments are likely to fuel further debate on UDA’s internal cohesion and its future electoral strength in the vote-rich region.
Although he signalled his exit from the UDA ticket for 2027, Kang’ata did not disclose the political direction he intends to take, saying only that his focus remains on completing his current term.
The governor has previously been viewed as a close ally of President William Ruto, having served in different leadership capacities within the broader Kenya Kwanza coalition before his election as Murang’a governo