President William Ruto has revoked the appointment of Felicity Nkirote Biriri as Chairperson of the Warehouse Receipt System Council (WRSC), replacing her with Patrick Mukundi Mbogo from Embu County.

The decision, gazetted on February 6, 2026, has triggered a public political dispute within the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA), exposing growing tensions in the Mt Kenya East region.

Felicity Nkirote Biriri, a woman representative aspirant from Meru County, responded with a strongly worded press statement. While acknowledging the president’s authority, she questioned the reasons behind her removal and suggested that political intolerance had played a role.

“While I respect the authority of the appointing office, and I am grateful to His Excellency Dr William Samoei Ruto, PhD, EGH, for the opportunity to have served, I am deeply saddened by the circumstances surrounding this decision, which appears to be motivated not by performance, integrity, or competence, but by political intolerance and fear of independent thought,” Biriri said.

She added that speaking out in defence of farmers and holding firm views should not attract punishment. Biriri also highlighted the importance of the WRSC to Kenya’s agricultural sector, noting that the council remains under-resourced despite its role in stabilising commodity markets and supporting farmers. She called on the government to strengthen the institution rather than undermine it.

Beyond her dismissal, Biriri raised broader political concerns. She criticised what she described as the continued marginalisation of Meru County, despite its strong backing of President Ruto in the 2022 elections.

“Meru County stood firmly with this government. We ranked fourth nationally in votes delivered. Yet, today, we continue to witness systematic marginalisation in development allocation, national appointments, and recruitment opportunities,” she stated.

Biriri also announced her intention to contest the Meru County Woman Representative seat in the 2027 general election, saying she would continue to serve the people without fear.

Appointment triggers UDA rift

The controversy deepened when Embu Governor Cecily Mbarire, who serves as UDA’s national chairperson, congratulated Mbogo shortly after the announcement. Writing on Facebook, Mbarire thanked President Ruto for remembering the sons from Embu and wished Mbogo success in his new role.

Her post sparked anger among UDA leaders and supporters from Meru. Meru Senator Kathuri Murungi issued a sharp response on February 8, 2026, accusing Mbarire of opportunism and questioning the fairness of the replacement.

“This is totally unacceptable. Even if this must happen, replacement of the former Chair Warehousing Receipt System Council should come from Tigania West Constituency or at least Meru County,” Murungi wrote.

“Cess, you cannot scavenge on what your neighbour has. Go hunt for your own kill. Umekimbia mbio, but personally, I disagree with your move. This must be revisited. You are out of order.”

Mbarire and Murungi all belong to UDA, making the public exchange particularly damaging for party unity. The dispute has fuelled perceptions of regional favouritism, with many in Meru viewing the appointment as another sign that Embu enjoys preferential treatment within government.

The WRSC saga comes amid wider unease within UDA’s Mt Kenya base.