SENATOR TABITHA KARANJA DUMPS UDA FOR DCP, DECLARES NAKURU GOVERNOR BID
Nakuru Senator Tabitha Karanja 'Keroche' has quit President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and joined the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), setting the stage for a major political battle in Nakuru ahead of the 2027 General Election. Karanja made the announcement on Friday, October 9, 2026, declaring that she will contest for the Nakuru gubernatorial seat on a DCP ticket.
The move pits Karanja directly against incumbent Governor Susan Kihika, who is also associated with UDA. The two leaders have increasingly clashed over the management of Nakuru County, with their differences playing out publicly, including during a Senate committee session where Kihika appeared to respond to audit queries concerning the county government.
Karanja, who joined UDA in January 2022 before winning the Nakuru senatorial seat under the party, said her decision to switch parties followed consultations with residents across the county. She has previously criticised the direction of UDA, blaming what she described as arrogance within President Ruto’s inner circle for the party’s declining popularity and poor performance in recent electoral contests.
Her move to DCP, a party associated with former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, now adds a new dimension to the Nakuru gubernatorial race. Karanja will be seeking to unseat Kihika, making the 2027 contest one of the closely watched political battles in the county, particularly given her previous alliance with UDA and now a member of the DCP party. Karanja however is not the only one seeking to unseat Kihika, CS Lee Kinyanjui too has expressed his interest. The 2nd governor of Nakuru who served between 2017 and 2022, will be vying on his Ubuntu Party's ticket, unless things change.