Kenyan Politicians Who Lost Big in 2024

The Kenyan political landscape can be very unforgiving and brutal. In 2024, it was at its cut-throat best, claiming the careers of politicians of all types, regardless of age, status, and affiliation.

This year saw the departure of major political players in the country, who were left pondering their next moves in the aftermath of their new political dispensations.

Making political moves can either make or break a politician and while others made the right decisions this year, others probably regretted their choices.

Rigathi Gachagua

In light of all this, the biggest loser of them all was Rigathi Gachagua. The country’s second Deputy President was etched into the annals of history after his impeachment from office. Gachagua, or “Riggy G” as he is famously known, became the first-ever sitting Deputy President to be ousted from office. His impeachment also made him the highest-ranking public officer to be removed from office.

Gachagua was impeached by the National Assembly in record time, according to many observers; a decision that was upheld by the Senate, effectively ending his political career. 

Gachagua’s downfall was as swift as his rise, as he went from being a first-term MP to the second-in-command of the nation. This made the whole scenario all the more interesting, considering the man from the mountain was on course to make history if he had gone on to become President.

Since his impeachment, Gachagua has gone through all stages of a political downfall—retreating to his backyard, seeking sympathy, blaming his detractors, launching scathing attacks on his former boss Ruto, and attending various political fora, maintaining that he still has fire in his political belly.

Heading into 2025, it will be interesting to see what Gachagua will be up to as he aims to maintain his political relevance.

Susan Nakhumicha

Another political loser in 2024 was Susan Nakhumicha. Nakhumicha had a torrid year as the Cabinet Secretary for Health. Many would go as far as saying that the writing was on the wall for her.

Nakhumicha had a tumultuous tenure as the CS, as she was faced with arguably the biggest medical strike seen in the country. In February, medics, led by the Kenya Medical Practitioners and Dentists Union (KMPDU), camped outside her Afya House headquarters, protesting against the revised medical interns’ pay and the lack of placement for the interns. The strike led to injuries, with some medics being victims of police brutality, including KMPDU Secretary General Davji Atellah, who was hospitalised.

That, along with numerous teething issues at her ministry, led to Nakhumicha being one of the lowest-ranked CSs in terms of performance, with many Kenyans decrying the incompetence at the ministry. By August this year, the CS had been dismissed from office in the aftermath of the June–August Gen Z protests, which led to the dissolution of the Cabinet.

Since her dismissal, Nakhumicha has maintained a relatively low profile but once gained infamy after a video of her lamenting about her life post-Cabinet made rounds online. The former CS, while attending a burial, was seen telling Anglican Church of Kenya Archbishop Jackson Ole Sapit to “pray for her,” admitting that life after her dismissal had not been easy.

Nakhumicha has now retreated to focusing on her agricultural activities, occasionally posting pictures of her farm produce. 2025 will be an interesting year to see whether Nakhumicha will make a political comeback amidst murmurs of her interest in running for political office in her backyard of Western Kenya.

Mithika Linturi

Adding to the list of the biggest losers is Mithika Linturi, the former Agriculture CS. Linturi was part of the initial Cabinet formed by President Ruto upon his ascent to the presidency in 2022, a controversial pick as he was battling court cases when he was nominated.

In 2024, Linturi’s ministry was embroiled in a fertiliser scandal, where it emerged that the government was issuing fake fertiliser to farmers, which resulted in the country’s food basket being put at great risk.

The scandal, which gained national attention, led to the passing of a special motion of impeachment against Linturi in the National Assembly. However, Linturi survived by the skin of his teeth when a majority of the special committee of MPs, formed to determine his fate, voted to save him.

Despite being rescued by the August House, Linturi’s fate was sealed after President Ruto dissolved his Cabinet in the wake of the Gen Z protests witnessed this year. Just like his counterpart Nakhumicha, Linturi assumed a low profile but also went on record lamenting his political woes.

Linturi in a public function expressed his regret at “blindly following Ruto” after entering into a partnership with the President by just basing it on trust and not a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) as is the norm.

Aisha Jumwa

Aisha Jumwa was another casualty in the political losers’ ward as she lost a plum role in the Cabinet and has been out in the cold since then. Jumwa joined President Ruto’s government as the CS for Gender, Culture and Arts but lost her position in the formation of the broad-based government.

Political naysayers had pinpointed Jumwa as someone who would have a major say in Coast region politics due to her position, but this did not materialise. Since her exit from government, Jumwa has maintained a low profile, receiving little to no coverage from the media.

However, Jumwa briefly came out of the sidelines to respond to a newspaper publication that had run a piece on two former Kenya Kwanza CSs, including Jumwa, who were ‘languishing in the cold’ in the wake of their exit from government. Jumwa sought to clarify reports by the publication that she regretted supporting Ruto.

“Who sought my opinion? You Taifa Leo, what happened to the right of reply? You should know this, there is not a day that I will ever regret supporting President William Ruto. He is a leader I believe in. Stop cheap politics. William Ruto and I till the end. We are in the cold? What cold?” she quipped.

However, despite her strong loyalty stance, many political observers see the contrary, as Jumwa has reportedly been left out of local politics in her Kilifi backyard. Many claim that her snub during the Mijikenda Cultural Festival was a major indicator of the real affairs on the ground. Further, emerging reports indicated that the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party was considering different candidates for the Kilifi gubernatorial race, which Jumwa had been a frontrunner for.

It remains to be seen whether Jumwa will be able to heal from her wounds and make a strong comeback into politics in 2025.

Cleophas Malala

2024 saw a huge fall from grace for former United Democratic Alliance (UDA) Secretary General and immediate former Kakamega Senator Cleophas Malala.

Malala was a victim of his allegiance to former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, whose impeachment led to Malala’s ouster from his influential role in UDA.

Malala’s entry into Kenyan politics had all the makings of a glittering career in the political landscape; from one of the youngest senators in Kenya to the ruling party’s Secretary General. But not even Malala himself could foresee what would befall him in 2024.

With his removal, Malala lost any relevance or influence he had in the ruling party, becoming nothing more than an ordinary political commentator. Since his exit, Malala has lamented about his tribulations and has greatly criticised Ruto, whom he accused of lacking courtesy and decency by signing off Gachagua’s impeachment even when he was sick in hospital.

“How could you, President William Ruto, be so bitter? Your deputy is sick in the hospital and you are still fighting him. President, we helped you and stood by you, but we did not know you would become a person who does not care about his friends. We leave everything to God,” Malala was quoted as saying in an interview with a local newspaper in October 2024.

However, Malala has painted the picture of one who may be down but not out. He has been spotted attending various fora in his Kakamega backyard as he aims to maintain his political relevance.

This year’s political losers only served to show the two-sided nature of the dirty game that is politics. For the politicians who fell on the wrong side of the guillotine, perhaps it was an indication that they needed to head back to the drawing board and re-strategise. Time will only tell whether the setbacks they encountered are permanent or temporary.

A famous saying goes, “Form is temporary, class is permanent.” Kenyan politicians who endured a tough year in politics can seek solace in this phrase and hope that the new year brings them an opportunity to bounce back onto the political scene and reclaim their glory days. Time will tell.