A fresh political storm is brewing within President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza administration after Kitui East MP Nimrod Mbai issued a dramatic 10-day ultimatum to Cabinet Secretary for Labour and Social Protection Alfred Mutua, demanding that he dissolve his Maendeleo Chap Chap (MCC) party or vacate government.
Speaking during a church service, Mbai declared that Mutua’s continued leadership of Maendeleo Chap Chap while serving in President Ruto’s Cabinet amounted to outright defiance of the ruling coalition’s push for political unity under the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
According to the outspoken lawmaker, UDA leaders had reached a consensus before the event that all leaders serving in government should align fully with the president’s party.
Mbai: Dissolve the party or leave government
Mbai argued that it was contradictory for Mutua to earn a salary from the Kenya Kwanza administration while maintaining an independent political outfit.
“That level of disobedience and insubordination cannot continue. We have agreed as UDA members that Alfred Mutua has ten days to dissolve Maendeleo Chap Chap. If he dissolves it, he can continue supporting President Ruto. If not, he should leave government,” Mbai declared.
The MP insisted that the ultimatum was non-negotiable, saying Mutua should either voluntarily resign or be dismissed by President William Ruto if he fails to comply within the stipulated period.
“Maendeleo Chap Chap has to go in ten days. If it doesn’t go, Mutua should go. It is either he resigns, or the president fires him within ten days,” Mbai said.
Cites other Kenya Kwanza leaders
Mbai pointed to senior government officials who have already folded their political parties in support of the president’s call for a united political movement.
He noted that Prime Cabinet Secretary Musalia Mudavadi had dissolved his Amani National Congress (ANC) party as part of the consolidation process, arguing that the same standard should apply to every Cabinet member.
According to Mbai, allowing one Cabinet Secretary to retain a separate political vehicle creates mixed signals within the coalition and weakens the ruling alliance ahead of future elections.
“He is my elder brother”
Despite his tough stance, Mbai revealed that his relationship with Mutua goes beyond politics.
He described the Labour CS as an elder brother with whom he has shared a long political journey. However, he maintained that personal friendship should not stand in the way of enforcing party discipline.
“He is my elder brother. We have come a long way together, but his refusal to dissolve Maendeleo Chap Chap is creating unnecessary challenges,” Mbai remarked.
Preparing for future political battles
The Kitui East legislator said UDA was ready to face competition from major opposition parties such as Wiper Democratic Movement and NARC Kenya but questioned why the ruling coalition should also contend with a party led by one of its own Cabinet Secretaries.
Using the analogy of a bee, Mbai warned that even a seemingly small political party could become a significant distraction during future elections if left unchecked.
“We are prepared to compete against Wiper. We are prepared to compete against NARC. But we are not prepared to compete against a party led by someone appointed by the President,” he stated.
Pressure mounts on Mutua
Mbai’s remarks are likely to intensify debate over the future of affiliate parties within the Kenya Kwanza coalition, especially as the ruling alliance seeks to strengthen its political machinery ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Whether Alfred Mutua will heed the ultimatum—or whether President Ruto will respond to the growing pressure from UDA loyalists—remains to be seen. The coming days could prove pivotal in determining the place of Maendeleo Chap Chap within the Kenya Kwanza political fold.
