<\/p>\n\n\n\n
NAIROBI, Kenya, May 3 \u2014 Murang\u2019a Governor Irungu Kang’ata has announced he will not seek re-election on the ticket of the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA), citing what he termed \u201chonest differences\u201d over key policy priorities, including manufacturing, health, and education.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n In a statement, Kang\u2019ata said the decision followed internal efforts to push for a stronger focus on socio-economic sectors he believes are critical to Kenya\u2019s development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cHis Excellency the President has always told us the people are supreme, and I thank him for that statement. Therefore, my responsibility is to adhere to what the people have told me,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kang\u2019ata revealed he held candid, one-on-one discussions with President William Ruto, but the two failed to reach consensus.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI have had candid discussions with His Excellency the President where we shared these ideas, but we did not reach what we called convergence,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cAfter careful reflection, I have to state that come 2027, I will not defend my seat on the current party ticket.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Governor, however, stopped short of announcing his next political move, saying he would unveil his new platform at a later date.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cLater, I will communicate the platform through which I will present myself to the electorate,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Despite the fallout, Kang\u2019ata said he would remain a member of UDA for the remainder of his term and continue cooperating with the national government.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cUntil then, I will remain a disciplined and committed member of UDA. I will continue to serve diligently in my capacity and cooperate with the national government in delivering development to our people,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kang\u2019ata also affirmed his loyalty to President Ruto, dismissing speculation of a broader political rift or higher ambitions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI will remain loyal to the President and to the party through the remainder of this term. I do not intend to vie for the presidency or the deputy presidency \u2014 my interest is only to defend my Murang\u2019a seat,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n He further cited mounting political pressure during the President\u2019s recent visits to Murang\u2019a County, including calls from allies such as National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung\u2019wah to publicly endorse government programmes and political positions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cEvery time the President has been in Murang\u2019a, I have been pressured to endorse programmes, even publicly. That pressure has been too much,\u201d Kang\u2019ata said, adding that claims questioning his health and integrity also influenced his decision to speak out.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThey have even suggested that I am not sick, which I felt is not fair because truly I have a problem\u2026 people would start saying I am a cunning politician, so I said fine, let me speak the truth,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The Governor framed his decision as a matter of principle, saying he had exhausted internal party channels in pushing his policy agenda.<\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cI have done my best. I have given my strategies, which the party thought otherwise, and I have to say the truth,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Kang\u2019ata\u2019s announcement marks a significant political development in the Mount Kenya region, where UDA has been fighting to maintain support amid an onslaught by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua who has been popularizing his Democracy for Citizens Party following his impeachment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" NAIROBI, Kenya, May 3 \u2014 Murang\u2019a Governor Irungu Kang’ata has announced he will not seek re-election on the ticket of the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA), citing what he termed \u201chonest differences\u201d over key policy priorities, including manufacturing, health, and education. In a statement, Kang\u2019ata said the decision followed internal efforts to push for a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":14289,"featured_media":800752,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[26,4],"tags":[18877,1981,25787,491,3075,19381,31472,30204,2246,2245,1844],"coauthors":[2146],"class_list":["post-800749","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories","category-world","tag-2027-elections","tag-featured","tag-irungu-kangata-4","tag-kenya","tag-kenya-politics","tag-kimani-ichungwah-8","tag-mount-kenya-politics","tag-muranga-county-4","tag-rigathi-gachagua","tag-uda","tag-william-ruto"],"yoast_head":"\n