Kang’ata: There is nothing that Ruto can do to get me back to UDA
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, June 22, 2026Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata has dismissed the possibility of being persuaded to return to the ruling UDA party, insisting that President William Ruto has little chance of reversing the political damage he believes the government has already inflicted.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Kameme TV on Monday, June 22, 2026, Kang’ata said the decisions and policies implemented by the Kenya Kwanza administration have already left a lasting impression on the minds of many Kenyans.
According to the governor, any attempts by the government to reverse some of its controversial policies would likely be viewed by the public as politically motivated rather than genuine efforts to address citizens’ concerns.
“Ruto can’t rectify the mess he has made because, in the first place, political opinions are made over a long period; they do not happen in a day,” Kang’ata said.
Kang’ata has argued that public opinion against the administration has been formed over time and cannot easily be changed through policy shifts or political overtures.
The governor has argued that policies such as the Housing Levy and other contentious measures have already shaped public opinion, making it difficult for the president to regain lost political ground.
“If, for instance, you remove the Housing Levy, the public will justify that as politically instigated,” he stated, suggesting that voters would perceive such a move as an attempt to salvage political support rather than a response to public demands.
Kang’ata further observed that governments typically implement their most impactful and transformative projects during the early years of their tenure.
“The most progressive projects are implemented in the first two to three years of government,” he said.
The governor implied that the administration may have missed a crucial window to undertake reforms capable of changing public sentiment.
Kang’ata’s political shift
The remarks come amid growing political realignments ahead of the 2027 General Election, with Kang’ata’s recent entry into the Linda Mwananchi faction of the ODM party sparking a political debate.
The governor’s statement also reinforces his increasingly critical stance toward UDA, underscoring his assertion that there is little President Ruto can do to persuade him to return to the ruling party.