On Thursday, March 5, 2026, over 700 grassroots leaders from Laikipia’s Jubilee Party, led by county Chairperson Sarolyne Wanjiku Mwendia, defected to align with the government, bringing with them a voter base of 13,000 in the politically significant Mt. Kenya region.
As a prominent Jubilee Party figure who secured over 12,000 votes in the 2022 Laikipia West parliamentary elections during the UDA wave in the region, the chairperson explained her decision by citing a disconnect between the party’s national leadership and ground realities.
The defection follows former Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i’s entry into Jubilee leadership, which the chairperson described as “a departure from the concerns of the original foot soldiers who kept the party alive.” Sarolyne stated, “I have not walked away from the party; Jubilee abandoned the people. We remained to safeguard a house in the absence of its owners, but now that house no longer serves as a home for the hopes and dreams of Laikipia West residents. My 12,075 voters did not vote for a logo; they voted for a vision. Today, we move that vision to the center of power to ensure our county is at the decision-making table.”
In a March 5, 2026 resignation letter to the party’s National Secretary General in Nairobi, Mwendia pointed to a shift in the party’s national direction that no longer aligns with Laikipia County’s aspirations and immediate needs. The letter stated, “Having zealously supported the party, especially during its most challenging times in the 2022 elections when I secured a notable mandate of 12,075 votes and served as the face of Azimio-led demonstrations in 2023, this decision comes after consultations with grassroots supporters and my campaign team.”
The letter further noted that the party’s current national direction does not resonate with Laikipia residents’ immediate priorities and aspirations, elaborating that “as a leader, my obligation is to ensure my constituents are adequately represented in major national decision-making platforms.”
In a development, the outgoing chairperson has announced her intention to contest the Laikipia Senatorial seat in the upcoming general election, directly challenging incumbent Senator John Kinyua, who is expected to defend his seat on the DCP ticket. Sarolyne described this as a strategic move to strengthen the “Government Wing” in Laikipia with support from influential regional figures.