Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja has announced her departure from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and her intention to run for governor in the 2027 General Election on a Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) ticket. This announcement was made on Friday, October 9, 2026. According to Karanja, her decision to exit UDA and contest the governor's seat was prompted by consultations with residents who urged her to seek the county's top position.
Karanja emphasized that her exit from UDA was a response to the electorate rather than a party decision. She noted that it was the voters, not UDA, that had put her in the Senate. The senator now identifies with the color green, which symbolizes her new political direction. At an event in Nakuru County, Karanja stated that she would vie for the governor's seat under DCP. This move comes ahead of the 2027 elections, where leaders are weighing their party positions.
During her announcement, Karanja criticized the administration of President William Ruto, citing that Kenyans had high expectations when they elected the government, but these expectations had not been met. She mentioned that she had listened to people on the ground, and the message was that the government had fallen short. Karanja also questioned the President's understanding of household economic pressures, using the recent rise in milk prices as an example.
Karanja joined UDA in January 2022 and won the Nakuru senatorial seat on its ticket in the August 2022 General Election. Her announcement of leaving UDA and joining DCP came a day after Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba said she was quitting UDA. Wamuchomba attributed her decision to a lack of respect for other communities among some ruling party leaders, specifically mentioning Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale over remarks targeting the Mount Kenya community.
Both Karanja and Wamuchomba's departures come as leaders assess their party positions ahead of the 2027 elections. Recently, DCP MPs escorted Ol Kalou MP Sammy Waweru to Parliament on July 28 for his first day in the House. It remains unclear whether Karanja has formally written to UDA to resign or if DCP has confirmed her as a member or adopted her as its Nakuru governor candidate.
The exact venue and audience of Karanja's announcement forum were not specified. Additionally, the account of her remarks did not state whether her Senate seat is affected by her decision to leave UDA and join DCP. Karanja's move has sparked interest in the Nakuru governor's race and the overall political landscape in Kenya ahead of the 2027 elections.
As Karanja prepares to contest the governor's seat on a DCP ticket, her criticism of the current administration and her identification with the color green mark a significant shift in her political career. With her Senate seat and future political prospects uncertain, Karanja's decision to leave UDA and join DCP will likely have implications for the political dynamics in Nakuru County and beyond.
Key points
- Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja leaves UDA to run for governor on DCP ticket in 2027.
- Karanja criticizes President William Ruto's administration for failing to meet Kenyans' expectations.
- Karanja's decision marks a significant shift in her political career, with uncertain implications for her Senate seat and future prospects.
