Ruto’s fierce critic Buzeki defects to UDA
By Mustafa Juma, September 11, 2025Industrialist and politician Zedekiah Bundotich Kiprop, popularly known as Buzeki, has officially joined the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).
Buzeki, once a fierce critic of President William Ruto’s administration, was on Thursday, September 11, 2025, received at the UDA Party Headquarters in Nairobi by the Secretary General, Hassan Omar, alongside senior party officials.
Buzeki was part of the Uasin Gishu County delegation that visited the UDA headquarters.
UDA welcomes Buzeki
Omar warmly welcomed Buzeki, describing his move as a testament to UDA’s growing strength and inclusivity. He emphasised that the ruling party was committed to building a political culture that focuses on issues and the needs of citizens, not exclusionary or divisive politics.
“The UDA Party Secretary General, Sen. Hassan Omar, received a delegation from Uasin Gishu County led by industrialist and politician Zedekiah Bundotich Kiprop, commonly referred to as Buzeki, at the Party Headquarters. The Secretary General extended a warm welcome to Buzeki in the UDA Party, emphasising the Party’s commitment to unity and leadership as essential elements in rejecting exclusionary politics,” UDA said in a statement shared via its official X account on Thursday, September 11, 2025.
“The Secretary General said the President, H.E. Dr. William Samoei Ruto, is driving a profound economic reorientation, a paradigm shift from the economic accumulation model that creates wealth in the hands of a select few. Sen. Hassan further added that the President is dedicated to fostering a unified nation in which leadership is attained through transformative initiatives that are both inclusive and ideologically grounded, devoid of sectarianism and parochialism,” UDA stated.
“The Secretary General was flanked by UDA Deputy Chairperson, Hon. Kelvin Lunani, Executive Director, Nicodemus Bore, Directors, and other members of the Secretariat.”
Buzeki registers as UDA member
Speaking at the event, Buzeki thanked Omar for the warm welcome and noted that he had fully registered himself as a UDA party member.
“Wacha nianze kwa kutoa shukrani zangu za dhati kwa katibu mkuu na washikadau wa chama ambacho kinafana sana cha UDA kwa siku hii ya leo kukubali wito wetu, na maombi yetu ya kusema kwamba tunataka tutembee katika ofisi ya UDA ili tuweze kukubalika kuwa wanachama wa UDA. Na nataka niseme asante sana kwa sababu nyinyi wote mmekuwa hapa nikifanya registration, na tumepokelewa na mikono yote. Sasa nimejisajili rasmi kuwa mwanachama wa UDA,” Buzeki said.
Buzeki has been seeking to become Uasin Gishu Governor since 2013, with his bid bringing him at odds with President Ruto. He lost to current Uasin Gishu Senator Jackson Mandago in 2013 and 2017 and lost to Jonathan Bii Chelilim in 2022.
The businessman-cum politician has been vying as an independent candidate. Will his defection to UDA propel him to the county’s topmost political seat in 2027?