President William Ruto has suffered yet another political blow after the Devolution Empowerment Party (DEP), also known as the Mbus Party, officially announced its exit from the Kenya Kwanza coalition.
The party, founded and led by former Meru Governor Kiraitu Murungi, declared on Saturday that it had cut all ties with the ruling alliance, citing neglect, exclusion, and failure to honour political commitments made before the 2022 General Election.
“The Mbus Party is independent. We are not in any formal coalition. In coalitions, there must be formal agreements filed with the Registrar of Political Parties. We have no such agreement with UDA or any other Kenya Kwanza parties,” Kiraitu said.
The party’s leadership expressed disappointment over what they termed as continued disregard by the Kenya Kwanza administration, despite the support they gave during the last elections.
They said the alliance had failed to involve them in government processes and ignored ordinary Kenyans’ everyday struggles.
The move comes just weeks after the Farmers Party, associated with former Kiambu Governor Ferdinand Waititu, also announced its departure from Kenya Kwanza, citing similar frustrations.
With the Mbus Party now focused on strengthening its grassroots support’ particularly in the upcoming Mbeere North by-election, political observers say the latest exits could be a sign of deeper cracks within the coalition, especially in the crucial Mt Kenya voting bloc.
The back-to-back defections are raising fresh concerns about Kenya Kwanza’s hold on the region ahead of the 2027 elections, as dissatisfaction grows among smaller parties that feel sidelined in the current political arrangement.
Already, Ruto, seems to have lost key leaders from Meru county who have shown intentions to ditch him ahead of 2027. Already, former Agriculture CS Mithika Linthuri has held talks with former DP Rigathi Gachagua after he visited him at his Wamunyoro home together with a section of Meru leaders.
On the other hand, former Uhuru’s CS Peter Munya has turned down reports of being appointed into a major post in Ruto’s cabinet, saying he is not interested and busy strategizing for his Meru county Governor’s bid.
