President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) is facing another political challenge after Runyenjes Member of Parliament Eric Muchangi Karemba announced that he will not defend his seat on the ruling party’s ticket in the 2027 General Election.
Karemba made the announcement on Sunday, October 25, 2026, while addressing constituents in Gikuuri, Runyenjes, Embu County. He said he would begin consultations with residents and leaders from different political parties before deciding which political vehicle to use in his re-election campaign.
The declaration adds to a series of political realignments involving leaders elected on UDA tickets or previously associated with Ruto’s political camp, particularly in the Mount Kenya region. Several elected leaders have either announced their departure from the ruling party or indicated that they are considering alternative political platforms ahead of the next election.
Although Karemba has made his intention to leave UDA clear, he has not yet officially joined a rival party. His next political move will depend on consultations he says he plans to complete within the coming weeks.
Why Eric Karemba says he is leaving UDA
During his address to constituents, Karemba said the time had come for him to seek a different political party for the 2027 parliamentary election.
He argued that the political mood among people in Embu had changed, pointing to what he described as declining support for UDA and its familiar wheelbarrow symbol.
According to The Star, the MP said he would not contest the Runyenjes parliamentary seat on a UDA ticket next year and intended to announce his new political platform within two months.
His remarks suggest that he wants to consult residents before making a final decision rather than immediately committing himself to another party.
The announcement is particularly significant because political parties are already positioning themselves for the 2027 elections. Leaders seeking re-election must weigh their party affiliations against local political sentiment, nomination prospects and the expectations of their constituents.
For Karemba, the immediate question is which party will offer him the platform he believes best suits his ambitions and the political direction preferred by residents of Runyenjes.
Karemba’s political background
Karemba was first elected to the National Assembly in 2017 on a Jubilee Party ticket before winning another term in 2022 under UDA.
He currently represents Runyenjes Constituency in Embu County and chairs the National Assembly’s Public Petitions Committee. He previously chaired the Labour Committee.
His departure from the ruling party’s electoral platform is therefore more than a statement by a politician seeking office for the first time. It comes from a sitting MP who has already won parliamentary elections under two different party banners.
His political history also illustrates how party affiliations can change between election cycles in Kenya, where candidates sometimes move between political formations as alliances and local priorities evolve.
Karemba’s next decision will show whether he intends to join an established opposition party, support a different political formation or explore another option.
Until he makes that announcement, it would be inaccurate to describe him as a confirmed member of any specific rival party.
The Finance Bill 2024 controversy
Karemba’s political record has also attracted attention because of his vote in favour of the Finance Bill 2024, which became a major point of public controversy during President Ruto’s administration.
The proposed tax measures triggered widespread opposition, particularly among young Kenyans, and contributed to the demonstrations that swept across the country in June 2024.
The protests developed into a broader expression of public dissatisfaction with taxation, the cost of living and government accountability.
Karemba’s support for the bill became a point of criticism among some constituents and members of the public. His latest announcement comes against that political background, although he has not presented a detailed account establishing that the Finance Bill vote alone caused his decision to leave UDA.
His remarks about changing public attitudes towards the ruling party indicate that he believes local political sentiment should influence his choice of party ahead of the next election.
Whether voters in Runyenjes regard his departure as a response to their concerns or as a strategic decision ahead of the election remains to be seen.
A growing list of UDA departures
Karemba’s announcement follows several other political developments involving leaders previously associated with Ruto’s ruling party.
On October 18, 2026, Kieni MP Njoroge Wainaina, popularly known as Chieni, announced that he had left UDA and joined the Ufanisi Kenya Party. He said the party was intended to provide a political vehicle open to leaders and voters across the country.
Earlier in October, Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba announced that she would not seek re-election on a UDA ticket. Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja also announced her departure from the ruling party and said she intended to contest the Nakuru gubernatorial seat on a Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) ticket.
Other changes have involved governors and political leaders in the Mount Kenya region, where alternative political formations are seeking to build support ahead of the 2027 contest.
These developments show that party loyalty is being reconsidered by some politicians as they prepare for the next election. However, individual defections do not, by themselves, establish that all voters in a region have changed their political preferences.
The scale and significance of the changes will depend on how voters respond, which parties attract candidates and whether the emerging political alliances can translate their support into organised campaigns.
What does Karemba’s decision mean for Ruto?
For UDA, the announcement creates another challenge in maintaining its political organisation ahead of the next general election.
Sitting MPs often play an important role in mobilising supporters, communicating government policies and helping parties maintain a presence in constituencies. When an elected representative decides to contest under a different banner, the ruling party must consider how to retain its local support and prepare for a potentially competitive nomination or election contest.
Karemba’s decision is particularly relevant because the Mount Kenya region was an important part of the coalition that supported Ruto in the 2022 presidential election.
The recent departures from UDA have raised questions about the future of political alliances in the region. Nevertheless, it would be premature to conclude that the announcements represent a uniform shift in voter opinion. Residents have different interests, and their decisions at the ballot box cannot be determined solely by the political choices of individual leaders.
For Ruto and UDA, the challenge is to respond to the concerns being raised by elected representatives and voters while preparing for a more competitive political environment.
For Karemba, leaving the party’s ticket is only the first step. He will still need to secure a suitable political platform, communicate his reasons to constituents and make his case for another term in Parliament.
Which party will Karemba join next?
This is the question many observers will be watching in the coming weeks.
Karemba has said he will consult residents and political leaders before announcing his next party. His decision could be influenced by the level of local support, the policies of potential political partners and the opportunities available to him ahead of the 2027 nominations.
He has not yet confirmed that he will join DCP, Ufanisi Kenya Party or any other named political formation.
His next announcement will therefore be important in determining whether his departure from UDA leads to a formal opposition alliance or a different political arrangement.
As the 2027 election approaches, such decisions will continue to shape discussions about party loyalty, political representation and the formation of electoral coalitions.
For now, one thing is clear: Eric Karemba will not defend his Runyenjes parliamentary seat on a UDA ticket in 2027. Which party he chooses next remains an open question.
