Nyeri County's former First Lady, Margaret Karungaru Gachagua, has formally ditched the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party - expressing fears in the nomination process.
Sources privy to the matter intimated to Kenyans.co.ke that Karungaru cited fears that the nominations might not be free and fair and hence sought to secure her candidature as an independent contender.
Karungaru will vie for the Nyeri Woman Representative seat in the August General Election. She will face off with Rose Waikundi (Chama Cha Kazi party) and incumbent Rahab Mukami.
Karungaru is the widow to the late governor of Nyeri, Nderitu Gachagua, and sister-in-law to Mathira Member of Parliament, Rigathi Gachagua. A source privy to her political game plan told Kenyans.co.ke that she will, however, still support Deputy President William Ruto's presidential bid.
"Our Deputy President is so far up, he can wish for things to be free and fair, but we know sometimes what happens on the ground is different. I'm I willing to take that risk? My answer is no," Karungaru stated at a function in Naru Moru over the weekend.
Further, the widow had expressed hope to vie on her late husband's political party.
"My husband was elected as a governor on a GNU party ticket which was a small party. If he was still here, I would use the party to vie but now I choose to go independent," she added.
Karungaru's departure from the party comes as a number of influential politicians switch camps in a bid to secure their interests.
Recently, Anthony Kibagendi, the Secretary of Youth Affairs in the Office of Deputy President William Ruto, exited the party and days later joined the Azimio La Umoja movement.
Further, Turkana Senator Imana Malachy had also exited UDA and joined the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) under the leadership of Raila Odinga.
On the other hand, the likes of Kirinyaga Governor Anne Waiguru, Gilgil MP Martha Wangari (Jubilee), Makueni DG Adelina Mwau (Wiper), Wilson Sossion have all decamped to the DP's party in the recent past.
