Politics

During the meeting with Kindiki, musicians praised the success of the Social Health Insurance Fund, but Gachagua condemned their actions as a betrayal of the Mt Kenya community.

Gachagua condemned the alleged attack on Koimburi, terming it part of a pattern of political persecution targeting his party's leadership.

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua announced that the party is targeting at least 130 National Assembly seats and 22 Senate seats.

The Digital Content Creators Association of Kenya accused the former Deputy President of attempting to silence artistic voices and weaponise culture for political gain.

Ruto also announced that the government would donate land for the construction of a fire station in Kibera to improve emergency response times and better tackle fires in the area, addressing long-standing challenges of slow firefighter response that have often worsened the impact of such infernos.

Additional reports add that the MP's wife sustained minor injuries during the commotion as she attempted to stop her husband's abduction.

Raila says the petition is an abuse of the court process and should be struck out, arguing that the Supreme Court lacks jurisdiction to handle the case at this point.

This comes just weeks after Gachagua, during a widely publicised event on May 15, publicly unveiled the name of the party and introduced a line-up of interim officials, a move that many had initially interpreted as the actual party launch.

The petition cited irregularities in the selection of the IEBC nominees, alleging that the process violated constitutional provisions and failed to ensure effective public participation.

The party highlighted Orwoba’s bravery in questioning Cabinet Secretary Alfred Mutua regarding the lost funds of Kenyans promised jobs abroad.

The former PM added that the National Assembly has its own sphere and must also carry out its duties without interfering with the role of the Senate.

This comes just a day after the High Court dismissed her application challenging her expulsion from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.

In his judgment, Justice Githinji stated that the nomination met all constitutional and legal requirements, faulting the IEBC for unlawfully obstructing the process.

Reports indicate the plainclothes officers involved in the raid are believed to be from the EACC, although the agency has yet to issue an official statement.

Hassan Omar further stated that Orwoba will no longer be entitled to any privileges reserved for UDA members and is no longer authorised to represent or act on behalf of the party in any capacity.

Gachagua also stated that he has not received any official summons from any government agency regarding his remarks, but affirmed that he would comply if formally summoned.

Through his lawyers, led by Ken Echesa, Salasya applied to have his firearm and mobile phones returned to him after they were confiscated following his dramatic arrest.

According to Salasya's lawyer, Echesa, the DCI said they are investigating him for publishing false information bordering on ethnic vilification and incitement, but they could not share any details.

The former deputy president touched on the 2007 post-election violence, a period during which over 1,200 people died in ethnic clashes, suggesting that current political manoeuvres by President William Ruto could ignite similar unrest.

Kindiki criticised opposition leaders who are already focusing on the 2027 elections, arguing that the country cannot remain in a constant state of political campaigning.

Gachagua said that Ruto's constant reshuffling of the Cabinet is an attempt to distract Kenyans from his own administrative failures.

Gachagua said he had been a DJ both for fun and to earn money, adding that he bought a disco system for about Sh25,000, which was considered a significant amount at the time.

According to Gachagua, the decision to keep President Ruto's photos was deliberate, meant to constantly remind him not to trust people blindly.

If his impeachment was intended to end his political journey, Gachagua sees it instead as the start of a new, more purposeful chapter—one that begins in his Wamunyoro home.

Concerns are mounting over the rise in politically motivated violence, prompting election observers to question whether the 2027 polls will be free and fair.

The MP, who recently declared his intention to run for president in 2027, questioned the motive behind the ambush, saying he has steered clear of attacking the government in his rallies.

Orwoba’s lawyer, Moses Mabeya, filed the court application on Thursday, seeking to block the disciplinary hearing.

Gachagua intends to continue with petitions urging the High Court to find his impeachment was not constitutional and therefore invalidate it.

CS Murkomen claimed that the violence was sparked by a dispute among some of Gachagua’s supporters over unpaid dues.

Gachagua has anchored his political messaging on “listening to the people,” claiming that many Kenyans no longer resonate with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA)—the party that propelled him and President Ruto to power.

Linturi accused the ruling party of straying from its founding ideals and engaging in abductions, corruption, excessive taxation and murder.

Additional reports indicate that Gachagua has settled on green, brown and black as the outfit's official party colours while its logo features a hand touching an ear, symbolising Gachagua's attentiveness to grassroots concerns.

The visit was slated to commence on Wednesday, May 21. Ruto was set to inspect major development projects such as Konza City, Thwake Dam and Wote Stadium.

The announcement comes just four days after UDA officially opened the online registration portal for its Phase II Ward-level Grassroots Elections.

The leaders described the recruitment as flawed, opaque, and politically influenced.

In a resignation letter dated May 12, 2025 and addressed to the party's secretary-general, Gachagua accused UDA of dishonesty, claiming its manifesto was built on falsehoods and failed promises.

Gachagua said he could no longer be part of a political outfit that had, in his view, betrayed the ideals it was founded upon and led the country down a “retrogressive path”.

Gachagua highlighted Matiang’i’s impressive track record, having held key positions in various ministries under President Uhuru Kenyatta's administration.

Gachagua took aim at President Ruto, accusing him of forming smaller parties in an attempt to divide the Mt Kenya region's large voter basket ahead of the 2027 polls.

Gachagua urged his supporters to pray for unity among opposition leaders, warning that their political rivals are hoping for division.

The committee’s statement criticised her April 22, 2025, interview on Spice FM, where she questioned the labour mobility programme, a key initiative of President William Ruto’s administration.

Once approved, the new IEBC team will take over the commission’s leadership and play a central role in managing upcoming by-elections and preparing for the 2027 General Election.

The issue of presidential protection in Kenya has become particularly relevant following an incident in early May 2025 when someone in a crowd threw a shoe at President William Ruto during a public event, hitting his hand.

The grassroots elections were supposed to happen at the same time across the country, but they have been delayed several times.

President Ruto is now expected to forward the names of the nominees to Parliament for vetting and approval.

Mudavadi, who represented President Ruto at the church event, said the Mt Kenya region has significantly benefitted from development and leadership opportunities under the Kenya Kwanza administration. He noted that this has drawn envy from other parts of the country.

Gachagua claimed that Ruto was using Farouk Kibet and National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung'wah to lead his onslaught against Kenyatta.

The footage, seen by The Eastleigh Voice, shows the shoe hitting the head of state mid-speech. Despite the disruption, President Ruto remained composed and continued addressing the crowd.

Orengo has previously strongly criticised ODM's collaboration with the Kenya Kwanza government, labelling it an "abomination" and a "disaster".