Gatundu South MP Kagombe quits Ruto’s UDA Party
Gatundu South MP Kagombe quits Ruto's UDA Party
Gatundu South MP Gabriel Kagombe has announced his decision to sever ties with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), accusing President William Ruto’s administration of failing to honour key campaign promises made to the people of Gatundu South Constituency.
Kagombe, who was elected on a UDA ticket in 2022, said he could no longer continue supporting a government that, in his view, had failed to deliver meaningful development to his constituents despite their overwhelming support for the Kenya Kwanza administration.
The lawmaker made the remarks during the burial of community leader Phyllis Njoki Kuria at Karangi village in Gatundu South, Kiambu County.
Kagombe cited the stalled Mau Mau roads as one of the major failures of the government in the constituency, saying the roads had remained in poor condition for more than four years.
He said the deteriorating road network had severely affected economic activities in the area, particularly for farmers who struggle to transport their produce to markets.
“The people of Gatundu South have supported this government, but what have they received in return?” Kagombe posed, as he questioned the government’s development priorities.
The MP accused the administration of prioritising projects such as stadiums, housing programmes and Rironi–Mau Summit Road projects in other parts of the country while allegedly neglecting Gatundu South and Mt. Kenya Region at large.
Kagombe, who also serves as the Zone One director at the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), also criticised the government over what he termed failure to implement the Guaranteed Minimum Returns (GMR) promised to tea farmers.
He took issue with what he described as increasing financial burdens on tea farmers, particularly proposed and existing levies affecting the tea sector.
The MP singled out the 0.8 per cent export levy and the proposed Ksh.3.85 per kilogramme bulk tea auction levy contained in the Tea Amendment Bill, arguing that such charges would further reduce farmers’ earnings.
Gachagua now alleges suspicious circumstances in deaths of Odinga and Gen Ogolla
3 Indian nationals who went missing after landing at JKIA rescued
IEBC begins procurement of election materials ahead of 2027 polls
Nairobi County issues seven-day notice for 473 unclaimed bodies at City Mortuary
He said tea farmers were already struggling with rising labour and farm input costs at a time when returns from tea farming remained low.
Kagombe argued that instead of cushioning farmers from economic pressures and fluctuating international tea prices, the government was introducing measures that could further undermine the viability of tea farming.
The Ruto administration had pledged to introduce Guaranteed Minimum Returns for key agricultural value chains, including tea, as part of efforts to protect farmers from market fluctuations and provide more predictable earnings.
Kagombe’s announcement has received support from some residents, with locals welcoming his decision to leave UDA. They said the constituency had not benefited sufficiently from key development projects, particularly road infrastructure, despite having supported the ruling administration.
Kagombe has, however, not disclosed the political party he intends to use in defending his seat in the 2027 General Election.
Gachagua links suspicious fuel to MP Johana Ng’eno chopper crash
Oburu Odinga resigns as chair of powerful Senate Energy Committee
Kenya to import one million bags of maize after crop shortfall
Raila Junior explains viral video of him addressing crowd through fence in Kilgoris
