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Kiraitu ‘Mbus’ party ditches Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza
Kiraitu Murungi at a past event.
The Devolution Empowerment Party (DEP), popularly known as “Mbus” — a corrupted pronunciation of a bus, the party symbol associated with its former leader Kiraitu Murungi — has officially cut ties with the ruling Kenya Kwanza alliance.
The party cited exclusion from key government processes and neglect of the ordinary Kenyan's needs.
The party’s top leadership said it is disappointed by Kenya Kwanza’s continued disregard for its role, despite DEP’s past support.
The leadership announced that the party would now focus on building its grassroots support base, particularly ahead of the upcoming Mbeere North parliamentary by-election.
Speaking during a press briefing, Mr Murungi emphasised the party’s autonomy, distancing it from any formal coalition with President William Ruto's Kenya Kwanza and any other political groupings.
"The Mbus party is independent. We are not in any formal coalition political party. In a coalition, there must be agreements filed with the Registrar of Political Parties. We have no such agreement with UDA or any other party," Mr Murungi declared.
The former Meru governor, who has been vocal about the need for issue-based politics, said the party's focus will now shift to championing the needs of marginalised counties and addressing development inequalities, which he says have worsened under the Kenya Kwanza administration.
DEP chairman and former Embu Senator Lenny Kivuti also accused the government of betrayal, noting that despite backing Kenya Kwanza in the 2022 elections, DEP has not been given a seat at the table in key decisions affecting the country.
“Our voice has been ignored. Our people are suffering, yet those in government whom we supported are silent on matters affecting ordinary citizens. We cannot be bystanders anymore,” he said.
This comes in weeks after the Justin Muturi-linked Democratic Party of Kenya (DP) cut ties with the Kenya Kwanza coalition.
In a letter to the coalition secretariat and the Registrar of Political Parties, the party said: “Kindly take notice that our stay in Kenya Kwanza Coalition is no longer tenable due to the prevailing political developments”.