Gachagua moves to box in Kang’ata, Wamatangi in Mt Kenya consolidation bid

Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is deploying a calculated mix of pressure and incentives to draw Mt Kenya governors into his political camp ahead of the 2027 elections.

The strategy is most visible in Kiambu and Murang'a counties, where Governors Kimani Wamatangi and Irungu Kang'ata respectively have so far declined to publicly align with either side in the political split between Gachagua and President William Ruto.

Gachagua is pursuing a more layered approach that recognises the popularity of the two sitting governors, while quietly attempting to force their hand.

In Kiambu, Gachagua has fronted little-known businessman John Mwaura as his Democracy for the Citizens Party candidate for governor.

But political observers see the move less as a straight challenge to Wamatangi and more as leverage.

The calculation, political observers say, is to keep Wamatangi under sustained pressure while leaving the door open for a last-minute political deal that could see the governor join Gachagua’s camp.

In such a scenario, Mwaura could be repositioned as a deputy governor candidate, with additional county executive committee (CEC) positions allocated to Gachagua’s allies.

“The message is clear—join us early or face the DCP wave. And that is a dangerous position to be because even in the last election, we saw how the UDA wave consumed very good governors such as Ndiritu Muriithi in Laikipia and Lee Kinyanjui in Nakuru,” political commentator Dennis Mwangi noted.

A similar playbook is unfolding in Murang’a, where Gachagua has publicly unveiled Irungu wa Mai as his standby candidate under the DCP banner should Kang’ata decline to align with him.

"In Murang'a, my person is Wairagū wa Maai. I told him to halt his gubernatorial bid so that we can work together nationally. But if Kang’ata doesn't join DCP, I will drop Wairagu in my plan for him in the national government, and bring him to vie for governor against Kang'ata and chase him out," Gachagua said.

The DCP leader is thus prepared to field a challenger, but is equally willing to fold that candidate into a joint ticket if Kang’ata defects. 

In that outcome, Wa Mai would likely become the deputy governor nominee, preserving Gachagua’s influence within the county leadership.

During President Ruto’s recent two-day tour of Murang’a county, Kang’ata declined to announce his stand, although his speech suggested he won’t be running on UDA party.

Gachagua has also fronted a broader power-sharing formula in DCP designed to attract incumbents without sidelining his own political base.

The former deputy president has openly pledged to share appointive positions in county governments formed under the DCP ticket.

Under the proposed arrangement, half of all county government appointments would be controlled by the party to accommodate loyalists and unsuccessful aspirants, while the remaining half would be left to the elected governor.

“Governors elected on the DCP ticket will have an agreement with us. Half of the positions will come to the party so we can take care of our people who contested but did not win,” Gachagua said in a recent address.

Gachagua’s model seeks to consolidate support by minimising direct confrontations with sitting governors and instead co-opting them.

However, the strategy is not without risks. For incumbents like Wamatangi and Kang’ata, joining Gachagua’s camp could mean ceding significant control over county appointments.

At the same time, rejecting the overtures exposes them to the DCP wave, which is gathering considerable influence in the Mt Kenya region.