Runyenjes MP Eric Muchangi Karemba /HANDOUT

The number of Mt Kenya politicians defecting from the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) continues to rise, with Runyenjes MP Eric Muchangi Karemba announcing he will not seek re-election on President William Ruto’s party ticket in 2027.

“It is good that I inform you that the time has come for me to look for a party. I know there are many parties. What I know is that next year, I will not contest on the UDA ticket,” Karemba said on Sunday while addressing constituents in Gikuuri, Runyenjes.

The MP said he would consult his constituents and leaders of different political parties before announcing his next political move.

“In less than two months, I will have spoken to my people and leaders of different parties. I will have announced the party I will use to vie for the Runyenjes parliamentary seat in 2027,” he said.

Karemba’s announcement comes amid growing political realignments in the Mt Kenya region, where several elected leaders have either left UDA or signalled their intention to pursue alternative political platforms ahead of the 2027 General Election.

Kieni MP Njoroge Wainaina, popularly known as Chieni, announced on October 17, 2026, that he was leaving UDA to join the Ufanisi Kenya Party (UKP).

Other leaders have also distanced themselves from the ruling party, including Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata and Nyandarua Governor Kiarie Badilisha, who left the party and joined former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP).

Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi has also indicated that he will contest the 2027 elections on a political platform chosen by Kiambu residents.

Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja has announced her departure from UDA and plans to contest the Nakuru gubernatorial seat on a DCP ticket.

In Parliament, Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba has announced her departure from UDA, while Gatundu South MP Gabriel Kagombe has also quit the party, citing growing public hostility towards the ruling party in the region.

Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro has meanwhile shifted his political alignment beyond UDA, associating himself with the People’s Party of Kenya (PPK) as political activity intensifies ahead of the next election.

The developments point to growing uncertainty over UDA’s political support in the Mt Kenya region, which was a key part of Ruto’s electoral coalition in 2022.

Karemba was first elected to the National Assembly in 2017 on a Jubilee Party ticket before winning a second term in 2022 on a UDA ticket.

He is widely recognised as the first member of the Akorino community to be elected to Parliament, with his distinctive white headgear becoming a familiar feature of his public appearances.

In the 13th Parliament, Karemba chairs the Public Petitions Committee, having previously chaired the Labour Committee.

He holds a Bachelor of Education (Arts) degree from Kenyatta University, where he studied between 2005 and 2010, and a Master of Arts in Public Policy from the same institution, attained in 2022.

His decision to seek a new political vehicle adds to the emerging contest over party loyalties and candidate nominations in Mt Kenya, where leaders are positioning themselves for the 2027 election