In a rare and powerful display of political conviction, former Murang’a Senator Kembi Gitura has stepped down from his role as chairman of the Kenyatta University Teaching, Referral and Research Hospital (KUTRRH). In a statement that sent shockwaves through the political establishment, Gitura announced that he had tendered his resignation to President William Ruto, saying he could not in good conscience serve under an administration whose policies he opposes. His decision is a direct challenge to the culture of political appointments and a firm statement on the importance of integrity and principle.
Gitura acknowledged that his appointment on December 20, 2024, had been clouded by political controversy from the start. He admitted that many of his supporters questioned why he, a fierce critic of the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) during the 2022 elections, would accept a position from the very government he had opposed. Gitura, who ran for the Murang’a Senate seat on a Jubilee Party ticket, said his supporters insisted that the “optics of my taking the position were wrong.”
In his resignation statement, Gitura was unapologetic about his political stance. He made it clear that he has "never supported the UDA government" and has "always stood firmly, although maybe at times quietly, with those forces that are up against its policies.” He revealed that he continued to be linked to the government by friends and allies, particularly after the June 2024 Gen Z protests, despite his insistence that his political position had not changed.
Gitura’s decision, he emphasized, was not about the hospital itself. He lauded KUTRRH as a national and regional success story, particularly for its specialized treatment in cancer, kidney, and heart conditions. His resignation, he insisted, was about his inability to "reconcile his political beliefs with a presidential appointment," stating bluntly, “I do not want to continue living a lie.”
He used his statement to criticize what he termed as "rampant corruption" and the "politics of deceit," stressing that he prefers honest and straightforward leadership. He also issued a powerful warning against tribal politics, which he described as a tool of division from colonial times. “Anyone who preaches tribal and ethnic politics must be shunned and not allowed anywhere near national leadership,” he said, calling on Kenyans to unite.
