Aisha Jumwa during a press conference at her Kakuyuni home in Malindi constituency, Kilifi County on Thursday, July 30, 2026. [Nehemiah Okwembah, Standard]
Major divisions have emerged among Kaya elders in Kilifi following former Gender Cabinet Secretary Aisha Jumwa's exit from the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party.
One faction criticised Jumwa for misleading the public regarding state support, while another faction previously visited her and rallied behind her, exposing political polarisation among traditional leaders.
Speaking in Kaya Fungo in Kaloleni, a section of Mijikenda Kaya elders led by Kilifi County chairman, Ms Katana Yaa, disputed the legitimacy of the elders who visited Jumwa and pushed back strongly against her claims that President William Ruto had failed to support her since taking office.
“The move by some people claiming to be Kaya elders and visiting Aisha Jumwa against the recognised elders has really angered me. I want to state categorically that we have never sat as elders to plan a visit to Jumwa,” Yaa said.
Yaa said that the last formal gathering of the elders was to declare support for Mung’aro’s county government and Ruto’s national government.