Seth Panyako, Vice Chairperson of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), has announced his departure from the party led by President William Ruto. Panyako made the announcement during the funeral of former politician Joseph Hamisi in Kakamega on Saturday, May 27. He cited his disagreement with the government’s stance on the Housing Fund Levy as the reason for his resignation.
Panyako revealed that he had a brief conversation with President Ruto at 7 pm, which led him to the decision to step down from his position within UDA. He expressed his opposition to the housing fund and the high cost of living, stating that he wanted to align himself with the interests of the Kenyan people. Panyako criticized the government for deviating from the campaign promises of “kazi ni kazi, pesa mfukoni” (work is work, money in your pocket) to a new slogan of “kazi ni kazi, pesa kwa serikali” (work is work, money for the government).
This resignation follows Panyako’s previous accusations against President Ruto. On May 14, Panyako held a press conference where he claimed that the President had undergone a dramatic change since winning the 2022 Presidential Elections. He accused Ruto of neglecting workers and failing to fulfill the expectations they had of him. Panyako urged Ruto to reconsider his policies and remain true to the promises he made to the nation during the campaign period.
Seth Panyako has resigned from his position within UDA due to his opposition to the government’s housing fund and the high cost of living. He has expressed disappointment with President Ruto, alleging a significant change in his leadership style. Panyako called for a reconsideration of policies and a commitment to the promises made during the election campaign.