Democratic Party, formerly associated with CS Muturi, exits Kenya Kwanza

The Democratic Party of Kenya, founded by the late Mwai Kibaki, has moved to sever ties with the Kenya Kwanza Alliance.

The party has, in writing and in keeping with the terms of the coalition agreement, given 30 days' notice of its exit.

The Registrar of Political Parties, Ann Nderitu, has confirmed receipt of a copy of the notification, which would make DP the first party to exit the coalition since its inception in 2022.

The party, founded by Kenya's third president, Mwai Kibaki, in 1991, and which, in the run-up to the last general election, fronted Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi as its presidential candidate, stated in a letter dated March 7 that its continued stay within the Kenya Kwanza fold was no longer tenable.

The letter was signed just a day before the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) party.

The notification, received by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties on Wednesday, is signed by party Secretary General Jacob Haji and Chairman Esau Kioni.

Haji told Citizen TV that Kenya Kwanza no longer espouses DP's ideals and that the coalition agreement entered into on April 12, 2022, simply provides for 30 days' notice in writing for termination.

While Muturi officially resigned as DP's party leader in October 2022 to take up the role of Attorney General, his relationship with President William Ruto, with whom he entered into a coalition agreement in April 2022, has been strained.

Earlier this year, Muturi condemned abductions, including that of his son, carried out by State agents—a public stand not looked on too kindly by the establishment.

National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, in an interview with Al Jazeera, later said, "Muturi is on his way out."

But DP's stay in Kenya Kwanza has been tumultuous right from the start, with a section of the party's officials accusing Muturi of betrayal by entering into the coalition agreement.

They later successfully sought relief from the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal, challenging Muturi's standing in the party and, therefore, the legitimacy of the coalition agreement.

Muturi's path to the Kenya Kwanza Alliance and a share of appointive positions in government was later made clear by the High Court, which adjudged that the complaint challenging the legitimacy of the coalition agreement was made out of time.