Trouble in Gachagua camp as allies flee

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s camp is facing renewed turmoil following the defection of Juja MP George Koimburi who was among his political pillars during his dramatic impeachment.

The defection now gives President William Ruto control of more than 63 per cent of MPs from the region.

Despite Gachagua’s perceived influence in Mt Kenya, analysts warn that the steady stream of defections by senior politicians to Ruto’s camp could sap his political energy and leave him perpetually on the defensive in his own backyard.

Explaining his about-turn, Koimburi accused Gachagua’s Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) of “betrayal and conmanship”.

He claimed that loyalists who stood by the former deputy president during his impeachment have been sidelined in favour of latecomers allegedly willing to pay their way into influence within the party.

“Those who are joining after the initial members are giving Sh5 million and instantly become insiders, while we who have been there from the beginning are pushed aside,” Koimburi said.

“I want to warn our people to beware of these new parties owned by crooks. DCP has shown clear conmanship, especially in Kiambu, by taking money from people.”

DCP hit back, alleging that Koimburi was a suspected spy who shared party secrets “in exchange for the slowing down of prosecution of 15 criminal cases involving land fraud, forgery of academic certificates and a self-abduction”.

Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba and Maragua MP Mary Wamaua have also ditched Gachagua, further weakening his parliamentary support.

Beyond sitting MPs, several political heavyweights have abandoned the former Deputy President. They include former Bahati MP Kimani Ngunjiri, former Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu—who previously served as Gachagua’s adviser at the Office of the Deputy President—and blogger Wahome Thuku, who was eyeing the Othaya MP seat on a DCP ticket.

The status of former Laikipia Woman Representative Cate Waruguru remains unclear. Once a vocal supporter of Gachagua, she has in recent months maintained a low profile and stayed away from DCP activities.

Wamuchomba and Wambugu have since emerged as some of Gachagua’s fiercest critics.

“Since he was impeached, he cannot hold any office or be elected to any position. He is merely seeking to act as a go-between to broker power,” Wamuchomba said on Thursday, portraying Gachagua as an opportunist lacking empathy.

Koimburi’s move was triggered by the recent entry of Aloise Kinyanjui into DCP.

Kinyanjui is the brother of former CS and Chama Cha Kazi leader Moses Kuria and an aspirant in Juja constituency.

During Gachagua’s visit to Gatundu on Sunday, Kinyanjui was allowed to address residents of Kimbo during a stopover in Juja constituency.

Koimburi said it was unfair for Gachagua to endorse Kinyanjui at his expense.

“I stood with Gachagua during the impeachment and faced many problems, including court cases. Now the baby has been thrown out with the bathwater,” he lamented.

In a rejoinder, DCP acknowledged that Koimburi had raised his grievances directly with Gachagua on Monday.

However, the party leader rejected his demands for automatic nominations for leaders who supported him during the impeachment and for the removal of Kinyanjui from the party.

DCP secretary general Hezron Obaga in a statement on Thursday said such exemptions would undermine internal democracy.

“The Party Leader informed Koimburi that much as he appreciated the support of those who voted against his impeachment, it would be undemocratic to exempt them from party nominations, as that would effectively kill a party that is enjoying massive support,” he said.

Obaga also questioned Koimburi’s commitment and reasons for leaving, noting that despite being an ally, the Juja MP had not accompanied Gachagua to any public function in the past six months.

The Gatundu rally further intensified the bitter rivalry between Gachagua and Moses Kuria, who on Monday joined President Ruto during a tour of Nyeri, Gachagua’s political backyard.

During the visit, Kuria accused Gachagua of aggression and intolerance, including in his home area of Gatundu.

Notably, Koimburi entered Parliament in 2021 through the People’s Empowerment Party, which was affiliated with Kuria at the time.

He now says his return to President Ruto’s camp is motivated by the need to unlock stalled development projects in Juja, which he blames on his previous political stance. 

Wamuchomba has accused Gachagua of intimidating her to join DCP, allegations the ex-DP has denied. Instead, he said the pressure is from the people, who are saying “you won’t be elected if you are not in DCP”.

The fighting escalated after a rally Gachagua held in Githunguri in her absence.

Since the fallout, Wamuchomba has publicly praised Ruto’s infrastructure record in her constituency, particularly road construction.

“He has been attacking and abusing every leader who does not support his tribal narratives and venom. He has created political enemies in every county in Mt Kenya, including Machakos,” Wamuchomba said on Thursday.

Koimburi’s exit comes days after Ruto toured Mt Kenya, where he urged residents to disregard Gachagua and the opposition and renew the support they gave him in the 2022 elections.

In a bid to consolidate his support in Nyeri, Gachagua’s political “bedroom”, the President announced Sh21 billion worth of projects, including 8,000 affordable housing units, 20 modern markets and hostels for 7,200 students.

He also commissioned the Karatina Marigiti Modern Market and inspected the Marua Interchange, part of the 84-kilometre Kenol–Sagana–Marua road.

“In Nyeri county, more than eight major roads are being upgraded this financial year at a cost of Sh4 billion. We will also build a dual carriageway from the Marua Interchange to Nyeri Town and extend it to Chaka trading centre,” Ruto said.

Nyeri Governor Mutahi Kahiga, a close ally of Gachagua, sent mixed signals during the visit, reiterating that he remains a UDA member, the party on which he was elected. He has in recent months also toned down criticism of the Kenya Kwanza administration.

University don and political analyst Charles Ng’ang’a says various factors could be forcing the individuals to make certain decisions.

“First is the individual perspective, where if someone has a liability to government, then they have to seek favours or protection from the state. For example, where some people are seeking favours or have cases such as corruption or embezzlement of funds,” he said.

Ng'ang'a says Gachagua's alleged high-handedness and dictatorial tendencies could be making it hard to work with him.

"He is a person you cannot advise or tell anything. And he is likely to lose more," the don added. 

He also attributed the need for development for the MPs for their own survival, as well as victimisation and regional marginalisation fears.

 Beyond the defections, Gachagua is also grappling with tensions within the broader opposition. He has warned former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang’i against running for president on the Jubilee Party ticket, accusing some Jubilee officials of secretly working with Ruto.

“There is no cold war between DCP and other parties, including Jubilee. What is happening is that Ruto’s people are hiding in Jubilee,” Gachagua claimed in an interview with Kameme FM.