UDA: Gachagua’s membership was revoked when he ceased being deputy party leader

A collage of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and a UDA party flag/FILE

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(UDA) has dismissed former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s public resignation from the party, saying his membership was revoked earlier this year when he was removed as Deputy Party Leader.

In a strongly worded statement released Monday, UDA said Gachagua’s announcement was “mere theatrics” and “inconsequential,” as the party had already notified the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties (ORPP) of his removal in January.

“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.

The documents shared by UDA indicate the party had already communicated with ORPP about changes to its National Executive Committee (NEC).

A letter seen by the Star, dated January 16 informed the Registrar of the decision made during the November 11, 2024, NEC meeting to replace Gachagua with Interior Cabinet Secretary Kithure Kindiki as Deputy Party Leader.

“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,” a letter dated January 16 read.

The ORPP confirmed receipt of the documentation and noted that the process followed was in line with UDA’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 letter read.

It also initiated the gazettement of the changes and instructed the party to publicise the update in a national newspaper.

Among the documents attached are the notice convening the National Executive Committeee (NEC) meeting dated November 7, 2024, IL Minutes of the NEC meeting held on November 11, 2024; an extract of the resolution of the NEC meeting held on November 11, 2024, a signed list of attendees of the NEC meeting held on November 11, 2024; and statutory Form PP7 on change of party officials.

“Upon review of the submitted documents, this Office confirms that the process of appointment of Kithure Kindiki, as the Deputy Party Leader, was conducted in line with the party constitution.”

ORPP said the office initiated the process of gazetting the change of the official.

RESIGNATION FROM A POLITICAL PARTY

According to the Political Parties Act, a member of a political party who intends to resign from the political party shall give a written notice prior to his resignation to— the political party; the Clerk of the relevant House of Parliament, if the member is a Member of Parliament; or the Clerk of a County Assembly, if the member is a member of a County Assembly.

Resignation documents submitted to the Registrar should include a copy of: Resignation letter from a member received and stamped by a political party. National ID or valid Passport used to register as a voter.

The resignation of the member of the political party shall take effect upon receipt of such notice by the political party or Clerk of the relevant House or county assembly.

The political party of which the person is a member, the member, or the clerk of the relevant House of Parliament or of a County Assembly of which the person is a member shall notify the Registrar of such resignation within seven days of the resignation.

Upon receiving the notification, the Registrar shall cause the name of such member to be removed from the membership list of that political party.

GACHAGUA'S SENTIMENTS

Gachagua, in his statement earlier in the day, claimed he no longer shared the ideals of the ruling party, accusing it of abandoning its campaign promises and failing to uplift sectors such as agriculture, healthcare, MSMEs, housing, and the digital economy.

In his resignation letter, Gachagua said, "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."