President William Ruto welcomed former Cabinet Secretary Aisha Jumwa back to the United Democratic Alliance at State House, Mombasa, on Thursday.
The meeting marks a significant political reversal for the former minister, who had dramatically exited the ruling party earlier this year.
The reconciliation follows a three-month separation that began when Jumwa announced her departure from the ruling party on July 30, 2026. At the time of her exit, the former Cabinet Secretary for Gender, Culture, the Arts and Heritage cited frustration over humiliation and sidelining within the party, pointing to her political ambitions for the Kilifi gubernatorial seat in the 2027 General Election.
She claimed her attempts to have grievances addressed by President Ruto had repeatedly gone unanswered, including an alleged incident when she was turned away from the gates during a meeting between the President and Coast leaders.
Received former Cabinet Secretary Aisha Jumwa back to the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) at State House, Mombasa. I look forward to working with her to advance the party’s transformation agenda at the Coast and across the country. We remain committed to uniting leaders and… pic.twitter.com/hSHWiokceL
“My loyalty to the people of Kilifi will always be greater than my loyalty to any political party. The voice of the people of Kilifi is louder than the voice of UDA,” Jumwa declared at the time.
President Ruto received former Cabinet Secretary Aisha Jumwa back to the United Democratic Alliance at State House, Mombasa. He said: “We remain committed to uniting leaders and Kenyans around our shared vision of a united, inclusive and prosperous Kenya. Usawa ni Sawa, Mbele Pamoja.” The President was captured crowning Jumwa with a UDA cap during the event.
Jumwa Returns to UDA
Jumwa’s return to UDA reverses a series of political engagements she pursued after leaving the party. She aligned herself with the opposition-leaning Wiper Patriotic Front following her departure. Wiper leader Kalonzo Musyoka proposed her for the position of Deputy Party Leader on August 14, 2026, saying, “There's no other party which has ever given Aisha a similar position with all her experience.”
Jumwa was dropped during a Cabinet reshuffle in July 2024. She was among the founding members of UDA and a key mobilizer for President Ruto at the Coast during the 2022 presidential campaign; she previously served as Malindi Member of Parliament and Kilifi Woman Representative.
UDA Leaders Back Mung'aro Against Jumwa's Ambitions
Local UDA leaders openly backed incumbent Governor Gideon Mung’aro, triggering Jumwa’s initial exit. Mung’aro is seeking a second term on an Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket. Senate Speaker Amason Kingi said UDA would not field a candidate against Mung’aro, a position that placed the party at odds with Jumwa’s ambitions.
The move follows a separate legal setback for Jumwa, as a court quashed her appointment as Kenya Roads Board chair. UDA and opposition parties continue to strengthen their grassroots networks, and Jumwa’s return draws attention to the Kilifi political arena for the 2027 elections.
Will Jumwa receive a new government role, and how will the party resolve her gubernatorial bid against the incumbent Governor Gideon Mung’aro, who is running for the ODM?