The Lower Eastern Times Opening The Third Eye
Former Cabinet Secretary for Gender Aisha Jumwa has returned to President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA), reversing her decision to leave the ruling party for the opposition Wiper Democratic Movement just months ago.
President Ruto officially welcomed Jumwa back into UDA during a meeting at State House, Mombasa, on Thursday, marking a significant political development that could influence the Coast region’s political dynamics ahead of the 2027 General Election.
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Her comeback follows her dramatic exit from UDA about three months ago, when she accused the party’s leadership of frustrating her political ambitions and blocking her efforts to secure the party’s support for the Kilifi gubernatorial race.
Jumwa, a former Malindi Member of Parliament and current Kenya Rural Roads Authority (KeRRA) board chairperson, had disagreed with some UDA leaders over the party’s position on the Kilifi governor contest. She intends to challenge incumbent Governor Gideon Mung’aro in the next election.
A founding member of UDA, Jumwa was also among President Ruto’s most influential political mobilisers in the Coast region during the 2022 presidential campaigns.
However, on July 30, she announced her departure from the party during a press briefing at her home in Kakuyuni, Malindi. At the time, she maintained that her commitment to the people of Kilifi outweighed her loyalty to any political party.
She later joined Wiper following discussions with party leader Kalonzo Musyoka, who reportedly offered her the position of deputy party leader while supporting her ambition to become Kilifi governor.
Her move to Wiper also saw her endorse the one-term political movement, signalling a departure from her previous position as one of Ruto’s leading allies at the Coast.
During an engagement with Kalonzo in August, Jumwa had even pledged to mobilise grassroots supporters to leave UDA and register with Wiper.
She said the same political network that had helped register UDA members in Kilifi would now be used to encourage them to switch parties.
Her latest return to UDA represents another major shift in her political journey, highlighting the changing alliances and rivalries shaping Coast politics.
Ruto’s reunion with Jumwa comes as the President steps up efforts to strengthen his political influence in the Coast region, which has historically been a stronghold of opposition politics.
The President was in Mombasa to attend the Kenya Comprehensive School Heads Association (KECSHA) national Annual General Meeting and conference, which attracted more than 15,000 school heads from different parts of the country.
The four-day gathering took place at the Sheikh Zayed Children Welfare Centre in Bombolulu, providing an opportunity for the Head of State to interact with education stakeholders and discuss challenges facing the sector.
Jumwa’s return places her once again within the ruling party’s political structure as she prepares to make another bid for the Kilifi governorship.
Her political comeback could significantly influence the gubernatorial contest, particularly as UDA and opposition parties intensify efforts to build grassroots support ahead of the 2027 General Election.
