Miriam Opondo: A Death That Exposes UDA’s Broken Promises

Miriam Opondo was a fierce advocate for persons with disabilities (PWDs), yet she died feeling abandoned by the very system she fought to change. As UDA’s Programme Officer for PWDs, she believed in the party’s promises of inclusivity—but behind closed doors, she faced frustration, neglect, and betrayal.

She pushed for real change, but insiders reveal she was sidelined, ignored, and given a desk job with no real influence. Her advocacy for PWDs was met with empty rhetoric, and the party she served refused to empower her. Beyond politics, her struggles turned deeply personal—she was allegedly abandoned by a powerful political figure linked to UDA, left to raise a child alone. The weight of broken promises, professional stagnation, and personal turmoil took a toll on her mental health. Depression crept in, and the system she trusted did nothing to help.

Her tragic death exposes a harsh truth: mental health struggles, especially among PWDs, are ignored in Kenyan politics. How many more advocates must fall before leaders take action? Will UDA own up to its role in her downfall, or will Miriam’s story be buried like so many others?

Miriam Opondo deserved better. If her death means anything, it should serve as a reckoning for the system that failed her