Trade Cabinet Secretary Lee Kinyanjui has officially been dropped as the party leader of the Ubuntu People’s Forum (UPF).

Through a Kenya gazette notice, CS Lee Kinyajui has been replaced by Samuel Kinya Rukahu.

The latest changes were confirmed by the Registrar of Political Parties, Ann Nderitu, through the gazette notice dated Friday, April 4, 2025.

Announcing the new party leader, Nderitu stated that the changes were effected on March 24, 2025, and challenged any party aggrieved by the decision to challenge through the required channels.

“Any person with written submissions concerning the intended change by the political party shall, within seven (7) days from the date of this publication, make their written submissions to the Registrar of Political Parties,” Nderitu stated.

Lee’s replacement came after he accepted Ruto’s nomination to join his cabinet to lead the trade docket.

During the vetting exercise, Lee told the MPs that he tendered his resignation immediately after being nominated to join the cabinet.

“I have resigned from the Ubuntu party, but my heart is very connected to its philosophy of ‘I am because you are,’” he said.

Finding Ubuntu

Lee Kinyanjui and his allies popularised UPF around 2021. Lee’s lieutenant took over the Citizens Convention Party and renamed it the Ubuntu Peoples Forum.

In December 2021, he formally aligned himself with the outfit, stating that it was key to advocating for the exercise of humanity.

“The principle of Ubuntu advocates for the exercise of humanity in our everyday tasks. It acknowledges that success in human society is a collective endeavour. While individual effort and reward is much encouraged, it should not be at the cost of society. We make wealth out of creating opportunity and enhancing value,” Lee wrote on his Facebook page on December 18, 2021.

During the 2022 polls, Lee left the outfit to defend his Nakuru gubernatorial seat on the Jubilee Party, which was then considered more popular compared to UPF.

He, however, lost to the incumbent Susan Kihika.

Other changes

To keep the party active and running, the Registrar of Political Parties further gazetted more changes to the outfit.

Dauglas Kipkurui Ayabei will remain the deputy party leader in charge of strategy, while Erick Mburu Murage retained his deputy leader position responsible for finance and national coordination.

Samuel Kinya, who served as the party’s secretary general before his promotion, will be replaced by Beatrice Nyawira Wambugu, deputised by Peter Owuor.

In the latest gazetted changes, Sylvester Njihia Nyoike and Rose Nashipai Nchoe retained their positions as national treasurer and deputy national treasurer, respectively.