The Ubuntu Peoples Forum (UPF) is setting its sights firmly on the 2027 general elections, unveiling a revamped leadership team following the official exit of its founder, Lee Kinyanjui, who has since taken up a Cabinet post in President William Ruto’s administration.
In a gazette notice released by the Office of the Registrar of Political Parties, Registrar Ann Nderitu formally ratified the leadership changes within the UPF. The notice confirms that Kinyanjui is no longer at the helm of the party, with Samuel Kinya Rukahu now stepping in as the new party leader.
This restructuring marks a pivotal moment for the UPF as it transitions from a party built around the leadership of Kinyanjui to one focused on institutional continuity and expansion ahead of the next electoral cycle.
Erick Mburu Murage remains in his role as Deputy Party Leader in charge of Finance and National Coordination, while David Ngugi Mwaniki retains the position of National Vice-Chairperson Operations. He will continue to serve alongside Abdulahi Adan Mohammed and Murguya Wilson, who also keep their posts as National Vice-Chairpersons.
A notable addition to the new lineup is Beatrice Nyawira Wambugu, who has been named Secretary General, taking over from Samuel Kinya. Peter Owour Onyango replaces Janniffer Wambui Mwangi as the Deputy Secretary General. Additional appointments have also been made across key departments, including the National Organizing Secretary and Director of Elections.
In her notice, Nderitu called on members of the public to voice any objections within seven days, stating, “Any person with written submissions concerning the intended change by the political party shall, within seven (7) days from the date of this publication, make their written submissions to the Registrar of Political Parties.”
Kinyanjui’s departure from UPF came after his nomination and subsequent appointment as Cabinet Secretary for Trade. During his vetting by MPs, he confirmed that he had stepped down from the party following his nomination.
“I have resigned from the Ubuntu party, but my heart is very connected to its philosophy of ‘I am because you are,’” Kinyanjui told lawmakers, echoing the party’s guiding ethos derived from the African philosophy of interconnectedness and community.
The UPF’s story began in earnest in 2021 when Kinyanjui and his allies rebranded the Citizens Convention Party into a new political entity with a focus on human dignity, social justice, and unity under the Ubuntu banner.
