Wamuchomba announces exit from UDA over 'disrespect' by CS Duale

Githunguri Member of Parliament Gathoni Wamuchomba has announced her decision to ditch the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), citing what she termed a lack of respect for other communities by some leaders in the ruling party, including Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale.

Speaking during a press address on Thursday, Wamuchomba said her conscience would not allow her to continue associating with political leaders whom she accused of disregarding other communities despite serving in public office.

The MP said she would instead align herself with Kenyans speaking out against leaders whose remarks she considers disrespectful to other communities.

“After soul-searching and serious consultation with my voters and community leaders and the church, I feel like my conscience does not allow me to dine, associate and cluster with people who have no regard for others and therefore I am not going to defend or campaign or seek any political seat through my party UDA,” she said.

“Going forward, I am going to sit back and echo what Kenyans are saying against such characters, Duale. I am going to join Kenyans to call out those people because in government nobody can hear me.”

Wamuchomba’s announcement comes a month after she threatened to withdraw her support for President William Ruto if Duale and Nominated MP Joseph Wainaina were not arrested over alleged hate speech remarks.

On August 31, 2026, Wamuchomba said a section of leaders from the Mt. Kenya region would abandon the President if the two leaders were not apprehended within three days.

She accused the government of applying the law selectively, arguing that leaders allied to the administration appeared to enjoy immunity despite making remarks she said could trigger ethnic tensions.

“I have been supporting him, believing that he can improve. I felt I had the responsibility to support him, pray for him and advise him,” she said at the time.

“But the more we support him, the more he is messing, the more his people are messing up.”

Wainaina had come under criticism following a circulating video in which he allegedly suggested that members of the Kikuyu community who did not support Ruto’s re-election should leave Uasin Gishu County.

The Nominated MP later denied advocating ethnic violence, saying he had been misquoted and maintaining that Kenyans had the right to choose their preferred presidential candidate.

Duale, meanwhile, faced criticism in July over hyena remarks in which he allegedly compared the Somali and Kikuyu communities while discussing the historical treatment of Somalis under previous administrations.

The Health CS denied targeting any community, explaining that the Somali proverb he used was figurative and was not intended to demean anyone.