Why Democratic Party bolted out of Kenya Kwanza
Democratic Party (DP) National Chairman Esau Kioni speaking to members of the press. He explained why the Party exited the Kenya Kwanza coalition. Photo/James Murimi
The Democratic Party of Kenya (DP), associated with former Public Service Cabinet Secretary Justin Muturi, has formally exited the Kenya Kwanza coalition led by President William Ruto.
On March 7, 2025, ,the party’s National Secretary General Dr Jacob Haji and National Chairman Esau Kioni submitted a notice to the coalition secretariat and the Registrar of Political Parties, signaling their intent to withdraw from the ruling coalition.
The letter read: “The Democratic Party of Kenya, vide this letter, hereby gives a thirty (30) day notice to exit the Coalition as stipulated in the Termination Clause (8) in the Coalition Agreement.”
Addressing journalists at his Kagere home in Othaya, Nyeri County, Mr Kioni said the 30-day notice period lapsed on April 7, 2025, thus cementing the party’s official exit from the coalition.
He explained that party members had resolved to terminate their working relationship with President Ruto’s administration, which had been established ahead of the August 9, 2022, General Election.
"We have no business with the Kenya Kwanza coalition. The Democratic Party is now operating independently. We are used to standing on our own, even in the past," said Mr Kioni on Wednesday.
"Working with the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) is no longer feasible because we do not see any benefit in remaining part of the Kenya Kwanza coalition," he added.
Mr Kioni also noted that the DP would evaluate potential political alignments ahead of the 2027 General Election.
"Members felt betrayed by the Kenya Kwanza coalition and decided to leave. We have no ties with them anymore, and we wish them luck," he said.
Mr Muturi, who initially served as Attorney General in Ruto’s first Cabinet before being appointed Public Service CS, was later dismissed from the Cabinet. He was replaced by Mbeere North MP Geoffrey Ruku in a reshuffle that followed a series of disagreements with the Kenya Kwanza leadership.
The former Speaker had joined the coalition through the Democratic Party in May 2022, shortly before the last General Election, under a formal agreement that made the DP a constituent party of Kenya Kwanza.
