Gatundu South MP Gabriel Kagombe has announced his decision to leave the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), accusing President William Ruto’s administration of failing to honour key campaign promises made to residents of the constituency.
Kagombe, who was elected on a UDA ticket in the 2022 General Election, said he could no longer continue supporting a government that had, in his view, failed to deliver meaningful development to Gatundu South despite the constituency’s strong backing of the Kenya Kwanza administration.
The lawmaker made the announcement 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 areas where the government had failed residents, saying the roads had remained in poor condition for more than four years.
He said the deteriorating road network had adversely affected economic activities, particularly agriculture, as farmers continued to 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.
The MP accused the administration of prioritising projects such as stadiums, the Affordable Housing Programme and the Rironi-Mau Summit Road while allegedly neglecting Gatundu South and the wider Mt Kenya region.
Kagombe, who also serves as Zone One director at the Kenya Tea Development Agency (KTDA), also criticised the government over what he termed its failure to implement the Guaranteed Minimum Returns (GMR) promised to tea farmers.
He opposed what he described as additional financial burdens on tea farmers, singling out the 0.8 per cent export levy and the proposed Sh3.85 per kilogramme bulk tea auction levy contained in the Tea Amendment Bill.
The MP argued that the proposed charges would further reduce farmers’ earnings at a time when they were already grappling with rising labour and farm input costs.
He said the government should instead introduce measures to cushion tea farmers from fluctuating international prices and declining returns.
The Ruto administration had pledged to introduce Guaranteed Minimum Returns for key agricultural value chains, including tea, as part of measures aimed at protecting farmers from market fluctuations and ensuring more predictable earnings.
Kagombe’s announcement has attracted support from some residents, who welcomed his decision to leave UDA and accused the government of failing to deliver key development projects to the constituency, particularly in the road sector.
The MP has not disclosed the political party he intends to use to defend his seat in the 2027 General Election.
His decision comes days after he threatened to defect to the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) over the arrest of Mukurwe-ini MP John Kaguchia.
Kagombe had criticised the manner in which Kaguchia was handled following his arrest over remarks in which he allegedly warned Mt Kenya residents of consequences if they voted for President Ruto in the 2027 elections.
The Gatundu South MP accused unnamed government officials of mishandling the matter, arguing that the arrest had further damaged the administration’s standing in the region.
“Ruto, if you don’t release Kaguchia immediately, we will defect to Wamunyoro,” Kagombe said on August 4, 2026. Kagombe stated on August 4, 2026.
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