Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi during a past event /COURTESY
Mathira MP Eric Wamumbi says former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has been reaching out to him to join the DCP, but he has ruled out abandoning the ruling UDA party.
Wamumbi said his most recent conversation with Gachagua was on Wednesday night and insisted he was not the one seeking contact with the former Deputy President.
"The last time I spoke with Rigathi Gachagua was last night, and he is the one who looked for me," Wamumbi said during a television interview on Thursday.
The MP said he communicates with Gachagua through messages but maintained that the former Deputy President is usually the one who initiates the conversations.
"Ni ukweli mimi huongea na Rigathi Gachagua kupitia ujumbe, lakini mimi si ninayemtafuta; yeye ndiye anayenitafuta," he said.
Wamumbi, who has consistently backed President William Ruto's administration, said he would remain in UDA and support the President's re-election bid in the 2027 general election.
"Mimi ni mwanachama wa chama tawala cha UDA na nitabaki chama cha UDA. Mimi ni Mbunge wa Mathira na mimi ndio mbunge wa Gachagua, na ni kweli sisi huongea. Mara ya mwisho kuongea ilikuwa jana usiku. Yeye ndiye mwenye kunitafuta," he said.
The former Mathira MP Gachagua represented the constituency before Wamumbi succeeded him in the 2022 general election.
Wamumbi also dismissed the prospect of joining DCP, saying he was yet to see a clear national agenda or vision from the party.
"Chama cha DCP mimi siendi kwa sababu sioni wakiwa na plan, sioni wakiwa na agenda, vision ya kujenga nchi, sioni wakiwa na vision ya kuunganisha Wakenya," he said.
He also revealed that money has featured in some of his private exchanges with Gachagua, claiming he had told the former Deputy President to stop asking him for financial assistance.
"Awache kuhadaa Wakenya kuwaambia mimi ndiyo nakutafuta, sio mimi namtafuta, ni yeye... na ninamwambia mimi sina hela, awache kuniitisha," Wamumbi said.
The revelations come days after Wamumbi publicly acknowledged that he and Gachagua communicate on WhatsApp, while accusing the former Deputy President of selectively making their private conversations public.
Wamumbi has maintained that he has access to the full exchanges between the two and suggested that the conversations contain more context than what has been made public.
His latest remarks come amid intensified political realignments in Mt Kenya ahead of the 2027 elections, with Gachagua seeking to build DCP into a major political vehicle and recruit elected leaders and aspirants from the region.
Despite maintaining communication with his former political boss, Wamumbi said his political allegiance remains firmly with UDA and President Ruto.
