UDA politicians defect to join Nyoro's PPK day after MP leaving ruling party

This story has significance for readers across Kenya and beyond.

- Nominated MCAs Esther Irungu and Anthony Marubu, both elected on UDA tickets in 2022, announced their defection to the People's Party

- The two join a growing list of leaders recruited by Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro, who formally left UDA on August 17, 2026

- Gachagua allies accused Nyoro of being deployed by President Ruto to fracture Mt Kenya political support ahead of the 2027 elections

Two nominated Members of County Assembly have defected from the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) to join the People's Party as Kiharu MP Ndindi Nyoro accelerates his recruitment drive following his own departure from the party.

Esther Irungu, a nominated MCA in Kiambu County Assembly, and Anthony Marubu, popularly known as Manucho, a current nominated MCA in Murang'a County Assembly, were both nominated in 2022 on UDA party tickets.

Their decision to switch allegiance to PP marks a notable early sign of movement away from the ruling party in the Mt Kenya region.

Ndindi Nyoro announces his first political tour of Mt Kenya amid pushback by Rigathi Gachagua's camp

Nyoro, who officially joined the PP on Monday, August 17, 2026, announced the defections publicly, also revealing that Irungu had volunteered to work at the party's offices without pay until the next general election.

Other Leaders Welcomed to PP

Among others received into the party was James Kamau, a parliamentary aspirant for Kasarani Constituency who contested the 2022 elections on a Tujibebe Party ticket.

Nyoro described Kamau as an important pillar for the party's growth. West Pokot Women Representative aspirant Damaris and Marsabit Town MCA aspirant Guyo Galgalo also formally joined the party.

Nyoro announced a planned rally in Mukuyu, extending an open invitation to supporters across the region.

Gachagua Allies and UDA Founder Raise Concerns

The recruitment drive has drawn sharp reactions from within opposition circles.

Allies of former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, operating under the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), alleged that Nyoro is acting on instructions from President William Ruto to split the Mt Kenya vote ahead of the 2027 general election.

They also claimed Nyoro plans to contest the presidency on a PPK ticket as part of a vote-division strategy.

Separately, Abdi Noor, who identifies as the founding chairman of UDA (Emeritus), posed four direct questions to Nyoro following his defection.

Noor asked whether Nyoro had held five telephone conversations and two in-person meetings with Ruto over the past four months, and whether his team had submitted a KSh 72 million budget to Head of Public Service Felix Koskei for a presidential campaign launch, a figure reportedly revised upward to KSh 86 million.

Noor also questioned whether Nyoro had been secretly meeting potential UDA defectors, particularly MPs from the Mt Kenya region, and whether he had been advised to stop using the political slogan "WANTAM" publicly.

"The Kenyan public deserves clarity; not political whispers, coded messages or plausible deniability," Noor said.

Nyoro defended his move, saying he had spent nearly a year consulting opposition figures including Peter Munya, Martha Karua, James Orengo, Rigathi Gachagua, Kalonzo Musyoka, and former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i before settling on PPK as his new political home.

Source: TUKO.co.ke

Reporting originally appeared via TUKO. Read the full source for additional context.