Farmers party moves to exit Kenya Kwanza citing political betrayal

The Farmers Party has formally begun the process of withdrawing from the Kenya Kwanza Coalition, issuing a 30-day notice as outlined in their coalition agreement.

In a statement released Tuesday, the party said the decision followed a unanimous resolution by its National Executive Committee, which met on April 7, 2025.

The move comes days after Irungu Nyakera, the party’s leader, was removed from his position as chairperson of the Kenyatta International Convention Centre (KICC).

“Accordingly, the National Executive Committee of the Farmers Party met on 7th April 2025 and unanimously resolved to exit the Kenya Kwanza Coalition,” the statement read.

The Farmers Party joined the coalition on March 23, 2022, with what it described as a shared vision to empower farmers, secure fair prices for produce, and improve livelihoods through a people-focused economic agenda.

The party said its participation was guided by a belief in the coalition’s commitments, but that belief has since been shaken.

“It is with deep regret that we note a consistent pattern of dishonesty, political infidelity, and outright disregard for both the Constitution of Kenya (2010) and the spirit of our Coalition Agreement by our major coalition partner,” the statement said.

The party pointed to a recent agreement between the Kenya Kwanza Coalition and the ODM Party as the breaking point.

According to the Farmers Party, the deal was reached without consulting or involving coalition members like itself.

“The recent unilateral signing of a Broad-Based Government Agreement between the Kenya Kwanza Coalition and the ODM Party - without consultation or involvement of the Kenya Kwanza constituent parties such as ours — is the final confirmation of the political conmanship that has come to define the coalition,” the statement read.

This move as explained by Farmers Party, not only violates the trust upon which the coalition was founded, but also undermines the principles of inclusivity, transparency, and mutual respect.

Citing Clause 8 of the Coalition Agreement, the Farmers Party has now issued a formal notice of intention to leave.

“Therefore, the Farmers Party hereby issues a thirty-day (30) notice of intention to exit the Kenya Kwanza Coalition, pursuant to Clause 8 (Termination) of the Coalition Agreement. This notice takes effect from the date of this letter,” the statement concluded.

The announcement comes after a special gazette notice dated April 1, 2025, in which President William Ruto revoked Nyakera’s appointment as KICC chair and replaced him with Samuel Waweru Mwangi for a three-year term.

In response, Nyakera posted on social media expressing surprise at the timing: “I feel special to be fired through a special issue (of the Kenya Gazette). They could not wait for Friday.”

Nyakera had held the post for seven months and had been expected to steer KICC into becoming a regional hub for Meetings, Incentives, Conferences, and Exhibitions (MICE) tourism.