The United Democratic Alliance (UDA) has dismissed former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s letter announcing his resignation from the ruling party as null and void, stating that his exit from the party had already been effected months ago through an internal party decision.
In a strongly worded statement released just hours after Gachagua’s letter was made public, the party argued that his removal as deputy party leader automatically revoked his membership, rendering his official resignation inconsequential.
“The ruling party, United Democratic Alliance (UDA), officially removed one Rigathi Gachagua as its Deputy Party Leader, which automatically revoked his membership,” read part of the statement.
“Today’s long paragraphs and ‘exit’ from the party amount to mere theatrics, hence, inconsequential. Furthermore, the custodian of political parties’ membership is the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP), and that’s where the resignation ought to have been directed. It is null and void.”
Gachagua, who had remained largely silent on his political future since his impeachment, issued a scathing resignation letter earlier on Monday, accusing the UDA and the Kenya Kwanza administration of abandoning their campaign promises and pursuing what he described as a “retrogressive philosophy.”
In the letter, he outlined his reasons for quitting, pointing to what he called a deliberate betrayal of the party’s founding ideals, including unity, economic inclusion, justice, and prosperity for all. He described the administration’s flagship five-pillar development agenda — focusing on agriculture, MSMEs, housing, healthcare, and the digital economy — as “centres of crime with no tangible gains.”
He further criticized the handling of the agriculture, healthcare, and housing sectors, suggesting that Kenyans had little to show for the promises made during the 2022 campaigns.
“By a copy of this letter, you are notified that I have officially resigned from the UDA Party with immediate effect,” Gachagua said.
However, UDA insists that the resignation lacks any legal weight. According to a letter submitted to the ORPP on 22nd January 2025, the party had already replaced Gachagua with Interior CS Kithure Kindiki as the new deputy party leader, a decision that had been reached during a National Executive Committee meeting held on 11th November 2024.
Gachagua’s resignation and the ruling party’s response mark the latest chapter in a deepening rift within Kenya Kwanza, exposing growing internal dissent as the country approaches the mid-point of President William Ruto’s first term.