‘Kiraitu Bye-Bye’: How I lost Meru governor seat to Kawira Mwangaza after failing to read the signs

In this third and final instalment of the book Illusions of De mocracy: A Political Memoir by former minister, lawmaker and governor Kiraitu Murungi, he recounts how political miscalculations, shifting alliances and a powerful UDA wave cost him the 2022 Meru governor’s race. He describes former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Peter Munya’s backing of independent candidate Kawira Mwangaza, whose populist campaign was too strong for her opponents. Plus her turbulent tenure and impeachment

Deputy President (William) Ruto took a very bold step. He united all the disillusioned Jubilee MPs and party officials and formed a new party, the United Democratic Alliance (UDA). It was said to be an all-inclusive progressive party, just like Jubilee, with a bottom-up approach to leadership and development. I was approached to join UDA but I was reluctant because of what had happened to me in Jubilee. I decided to revive my old party, the BUS, as the regional party for Mt Kenya East — Embu, Meru and Tharaka Nithi.