In the heart of Kenya’s politically charged Mt. Kenya region, a storm is brewing, and former Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu is at its epicenter.
Once a close ally of ex-Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, Wambugu has emerged as a fierce critic, accusing Gachagua of orchestrating a dangerous power grab that threatens the region’s political diversity and unity.
His outspoken campaign, amplified across platforms like Facebook and X, has sparked heated debates, with some hailing him as a defender of the Kikuyu community’s interests and others branding him a traitor to his own.
Wambugu’s fallout with Gachagua, which became public in early 2025, stems from what he calls Gachagua’s “unwelcome dictatorship” in Mt. Kenya politics.
Gachagua, now leading the newly formed Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), has been accused of pushing for total control over the region’s political landscape.
According to the former Nyeri Town MP, Gachagua is urging voters to shun MPs aligned with President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and other parties, labeling them as traitors who “dine with the enemy.”
Wambugu points to Gachagua’s recent attacks on Kikuyu musicians and MPs, where he called for boycotts and public shaming of those not aligned with his DCP, as evidence of authoritarian tendencies.
“Gachagua is obsessed with becoming a Raila Odinga in Mt. Kenya, dictating who gets elected and who doesn’t,” Wambugu told Nation, emphasizing that this approach stifles democratic choice.
The former MP’s critique is rooted in Gachagua’s political flip-flopping. In 2022, Gachagua, then a key figure in UDA, rallied Mt. Kenya voters to abandon the Jubilee Party—widely seen as a regional stronghold that produced former President Uhuru Kenyatta—for UDA, which Wambugu now calls a “Kalenjin party.”
After his impeachment and fallout with Ruto, Gachagua launched DCP, dismissing the same MPs he once championed as “foolish” for supporting his ouster. Wambugu argues this pattern of betrayal reveals Gachagua’s self-serving motives. “He agrees he was duped by Ruto, so why should we believe him now?” Wambugu asked on X, questioning Gachagua’s credibility and intentions.
On Facebook, where political debates among Kikuyu voters are particularly intense, Wambugu’s stance has ignited a firestorm. Supporters like @kahuro_sam praise Gachagua as a defender of Mt. Kenya’s interests, accusing Wambugu of aligning with “Kasongo” (a derogatory term for outsiders) and betraying the community.
“Marenge is you,” one user wrote, dismissing Wambugu as a sellout. Others, however, resonate with Wambugu’s call for unity without domination. “We cannot allow one man to kill other parties and control our votes,” a Facebook commenter noted, echoing Wambugu’s plea for competitive politics based on issues, not personalities.
Wambugu’s defiance comes at a personal cost. Once tipped to reclaim his Nyeri seat by aligning with Gachagua, he has chosen principle over political expediency. “Fighting for the community is more important than winning a seat,” he declared, urging Mt. Kenya residents to reject Gachagua’s push to dismantle established parties like Jubilee, Narc-Kenya, and the Democratic Party in favor of DCP.
He further points out that Gachagua’s refusal to join a party with a proven track record, like Jubilee, which produced a president, exposes his desire for unchecked power. “If he was genuine, he’d work within existing structures, not sabotage them,” Wambugu argued.
The backlash has been fierce. Critics like @brian_mutiga on X claim Wambugu is driven by personal grievances, alleging he once sought a job from Gachagua and failed. “He can’t win in Nyeri without Rigathi’s support,” Mutiga posted, accusing Wambugu of political jealousy. Yet Wambugu remains undeterred, drawing parallels to Gachagua’s own past attacks on Uhuru Kenyatta when it suited his ambitions.
“Rigathi did that to Uhuru when it was convenient for him, and now he’s acting smart by saying Uhuru should be respected,” Wambugu quipped, highlighting Gachagua’s hypocrisy.
As Gachagua prepares for DCP’s high-profile launch at Kasarani Stadium on June 3, 2025, Wambugu’s warnings resonate with a growing number of disillusioned voters.
Once a unified voting bloc, the region faces a fractured future as Gachagua’s camp clashes with Uhuru Kenyatta’s resurgent Jubilee and Ruto’s UDA. Wambugu’s message is clear: unity should not mean submission to one man’s agenda. “
”We are fighting for the soul of the region,” he told Nation, vowing to continue his campaign despite the personal and political risks.
In a region where loyalty is fiercely contested, Ngunjiri Wambugu’s stand is a gamble that could either redefine Mt. Kenya’s political future or cement his isolation. For now, his voice cuts through the noise, challenging a community to choose between blind allegiance and a broader vision for its future.
