President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has suffered a major political setback after two prominent lawmakers, Lamu Woman Representative Muthoni Marubu and Gatundu South MP Gabriel Gathuka Kagombe, were reported to have ditched the ruling party on the same day.
The reported departures, if formally confirmed, would mark a significant blow to UDA as political realignments intensify ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Marubu has been one of the more vocal supporters of President Ruto. She officially joined UDA earlier this year after winning the 2022 election as an independent candidate and later declared her intention to contest the Lamu Senate seat in 2027. UDA itself announced her move to the party, describing it as part of her political realignment ahead of the next election.
Her political journey has nevertheless placed her at the centre of Kenya’s increasingly heated political battles. In January, she was heckled at a funeral in Murang’a after publicly expressing support for Ruto’s re-election bid, an incident that drew condemnation from women leaders and parliamentary groups.
Kagombe, meanwhile, is the sitting MP for Gatundu South and was elected in 2022 on a UDA ticket. Parliamentary and electoral records identify him as a UDA legislator.
The two reported exits therefore carry different political significance. Marubu’s departure would represent the loss of a coastal-based lawmaker who had openly campaigned for Ruto, while Kagombe’s would further expose UDA to political pressure in President Ruto’s wider Central Kenya support base.
The development comes at a time when Kenya’s political landscape is rapidly shifting, with opposition formations seeking to consolidate support while UDA works to defend the President’s re-election campaign.
For Ruto, the timing could hardly be more politically sensitive. The simultaneous loss of two sitting MPs would provide fresh ammunition to opponents arguing that the President’s political coalition is beginning to lose key legislators ahead of the 2027 contest.
The reported exits also raise questions about whether more lawmakers could follow, particularly as parties position themselves for the next General Election.
Neither development, however, should be treated as conclusively verified until the two lawmakers formally announce their resignations or their new political affiliations through official statements or party records.
That’s he departures would nonetheless send a clear political message: UDA’s hold over some of its elected leaders is facing a fresh test as the 2027 battle gathers momentum.