Tana and Athi Rivers Development Authority (TARDA) Board Member and Mwingi North constituency MP aspirant Wakili Charles Mwalimu, popularly known as Kasela, has announced his withdrawal from all ongoing UDA empowerment programmes in Kitui County, citing what he described as exclusion, unfair treatment and lack of inclusivity within the party’s local leadership.

Mwalimu said his decision followed consultations with his team and constituents, accusing UDA Kitui County Coordinator Rachael Kaki Nyamai of presiding over what he termed an unfair approach in the organisation and conduct of the empowerment programmes.

In a statement shared on his social media platforms and seen by Ukambani News Hub, Mwalimu said his withdrawal remains in place until the party leadership embraces what he described as true inclusivity and accords equal respect to all aspirants. “After careful consultation with my team and constituents, I have made a conscious decision to withdraw my participation from all upcoming UDA empowerment programs in Mwingi North and the wider Kitui County,” Mwalimu stated.

He accused the local UDA leadership of creating a pattern of bias during empowerment events, claiming that aspirants seeking various elective positions were given opportunities to address residents, while those seeking the Mwingi North parliamentary seat were allegedly denied similar platforms.

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According to Mwalimu, only one preferred aspirant has been consistently given an opportunity to speak at the events, while other contenders have been left out. “It has been deeply disheartening to observe a calculated pattern of bias during these empowerment events,” he said, adding that the situation had prompted him to reconsider his participation in the programmes.

Mwalimu maintained that UDA empowerment initiatives should serve as platforms for mobilising support for President William Ruto and his 2027 re-election agenda rather than being used to promote individual aspirants. “The UDA empowerment programs are meant to be a collective platform to drum up support for the President and his 2027 reelection agenda. They are not and should never be converted into individual campaign tools or used to manufacture preferred candidate lineups while excluding others,” he said.

Despite his decision to withdraw from the programmes, Mwalimu emphasised that his support for President Ruto and the UDA agenda remains intact. “Let me be absolutely clear: My loyalty and support for His Excellency President William Ruto remain completely unshaken,” he stated.

The Mwingi North aspirant said he would instead intensify his grassroots engagements independently, promising to continue building his political network and engaging residents as the party works towards determining its candidates for the 2027 General Election. “Moving forward, we will independently intensify our grassroots engagements outside of these specific programs. We will continue to build our network directly with the people until the party officially and fairly determines its flagbearers,” he said.

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Wakili Charles Mwalimu has called for what he considers a more inclusive approach in the party’s grassroots programmes, particularly in giving all aspirants equal opportunities to engage with voters.

The dispute could test the unity of UDA aspirants in Kitui as the party seeks to strengthen its grassroots presence and mobilise support ahead of the 2027 elections.

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