UDA: Gachagua ceased to be a member in January after Deputy Party leader ouster

The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has dismissed former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s public resignation from the party, saying his membership was already revoked when he was removed as Deputy Party Leader earlier this year.

In a statement released on Monday, the ruling party described Gachagua’s announcement as "mere theatrics" and "inconsequential," explaining that it had already informed the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) of his removal following a National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting held on November 11, 2024.

"The ruling party, UDA, officially removed Rigathi Gachagua as its Deputy Party Leader, which automatically revoked his membership. Today’s long paragraphs and ‘exit’ from the party amount to theatrics—null and void," the party said.

Documents shared by UDA show that the decision to replace Gachagua with Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki was formally communicated to the ORPP in a letter dated January 16, 2025.

The party submitted all required documents, including the NEC meeting notice, signed attendance, minutes, resolution extract, and Form PP7.

"This is to notify you of changes in officials made as per the National Executive Committee meeting duty held on November 11, 2024, at the Party Headquarters notice convening the meeting, duly signed attendance register, minutes of the meeting, extract of Resolution on the meeting and duly signed form P.P 7 form," read the letter.

In response, the ORPP acknowledged receipt of the submission and confirmed that the process had followed the party’s constitution.

"This Office receives your letter dated January 16, 2025, submitting documents in support of the application for change of Deputy Party Leader," the registrar wrote.

The registrar’s office then moved to initiate the gazettement of the changes and instructed UDA to publicize the update in a national newspaper.

Under the Political Parties Act, a party member intending to resign must submit a written notice to the party and relevant parliamentary or county assembly offices.

The resignation becomes official upon receipt, and the registrar must be notified within seven days to update party membership records.

Earlier on Monday, Gachagua released a statement saying he had resigned from UDA, accusing the party of losing its way and betraying Kenyans' hopes.

"By a copy of this letter, you are notified that I have officially resigned from the UDA Party with immediate effect. I have made this decision in knowledge of the ideals of the Party we believed in, and so were millions of Kenyans, but now has turned out as the most dangerous political moment for the people and the Republic of Kenya in the retrogressive philosophy of an unfit class to govern our Nation," Gachagua said.

He criticised the party for abandoning key sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, MSMEs, housing, and the digital economy, and said it had wasted a chance to uplift the country.

Gachagua claimed the party had exhausted and wasted a Kenyan moment to take off economically, socially, and politically.