Murang’a Governor Dr Irungu Kang'ata was Friday welcomed into the Rigathi Gachagua’s Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), marking the start of a political gamble that could make or break him.
This makes Dr Kang'ata the biggest catch for DCP so far, even as Nyandarua Governor Mr Kiarie Badilisha on Thursday declared that he too was on his way to the party.
After two years of lukewarm politics, Dr Kang'ata, who is serving his first term after winning with 256,651 votes (74 per cent) in 2022 on President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket, has now taken a leap of faith into the opposition.
But pundits are worried that Dr Kang’ata may have jumped from the frying pan into the fire if political fortunes turn against him. Others argue that he has simply aligned himself with the prevailing mood among the majority of Murang’a voters, where being on the right side of public opinion is what matters most in electoral politics.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua (left) welcomes Murang'a Governor Irungu Kang'ata to the DCP party at his Wamunyoro home in Nyeri County on July 24, 2026.
Photo credit: Courtesy
Dr Kang’ata joins DCP at a time when the party’s aspirants' caucus has publicly said it is uncomfortable receiving defectors from the government side, fearing they will come loaded with cash and edge out those of modest means who have stood with the party and Mr Gachagua through its political turbulence.
Those worried about Dr Kang’ata argue that Mr Gachagua, who was impeached as Deputy President in October 2024 after serving only two years, is a man who forgives with difficulty and has a penchant for holding grudges.
According to political analyst Mr Malila Munywoki, Dr Kang’ata has every reason to remain vigilant because, in the run-up to the impeachment, he appeared happy to see Mr Gachagua fall so that he could inherit the position.
“Dr Kang’ata indeed appeared on public platforms campaigning to fill the void left by Gachagua, and even sought the support of the then opposition leader Mr Raila Odinga to be appointed Deputy President. Throughout the impeachment campaigns that started in Kiharu Constituency in 2023, he never opposed them, and his silence could be interpreted as support,” Mr Munywoki said.
However, Dr Kang’ata has since said at the time, events were moving very fast and that much remains to be disclosed about who orchestrated the impeachment and the political shifts that followed.
On Friday, Dr Kang’ata said he had signalled two years ago that Mr Gachagua’s impeachment was bound to backfire and make the disgraced former Deputy President an even stronger political force.
“What is important is that today you ask me, that impeachment was ill-advised, was unnecessary and is among the main reasons the government and UDA are in trouble in the Mt Kenya region. That is why some of us feel that aligning with the two in 2027 would be defeatist.”
Before jumping ship to DCP, Dr Kang’ata had clashed with Mr Gachagua over the Ol Kalou by-election. After 48 of the 50 days officially set aside for campaigns, Dr Kang’ata had planned to campaign in the constituency despite having neither a candidate nor a political party in the race.
“This governor wants to poke his nose where it does not belong, without even the courtesy of consulting DCP and its grassroots leadership. If he must go there, he should do so in support of the UDA candidate,” Mr Gachagua said.
Dr Kang’ata made a hasty retreat and, instead of campaigning in Ol Kalou, held a public rally in nearby Nyahururu Town in Laikipia County, where he was attacked by goons who stoned him.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua (left) with Murang'a Governor Irungu Kang'ata at his Wamunyoro home in Nyeri County on July 24, 2026.
Photo credit: Courtesy
When DCP candidate Mr Kamau Ngotho defeated UDA candidate Mr Muchina Nyagah by a margin of 30,000 votes, Dr Kang’ata returned to declare that “my Nyahururu rally was not in vain.”
Political pundits say Dr Kang’ata appeared to be riding on Mr Gachagua’s growing popularity and sought to bask in the glory of the Ol Kalou victory despite being aligned with the Linda Mwananchi political formation, which has Nairobi Senator Mr Edwin Sifuna as its presidential aspirant.
Even after turning up at Wamunyoro on Friday to be welcomed into DCP, Dr Kang’ata insisted he remained allied to Mr Sifuna.
Mr Gachagua, however, appeared upbeat that Dr Kang’ata had made the right decision and welcomed him into the party, saying: “Welcome home, where you belong.”
Mr Gachagua said he was delighted to receive his younger brother into what he described as the party of the present and the future. However, his statement contained neither excessive celebration nor particularly warm endearments.
Dr Kang’ata will now wait to face other hopefuls for the Murang’a gubernatorial race during the party primaries, which has so far attracted few contenders.
The only politician to express interest in the seat on a DCP ticket is former Kigumo MP Mr Jamleck Kamau, who finished second to Dr Kang’ata in 2022 after garnering 91,164 votes.
“I have openly said that should Dr Kang’ata join DCP, I will drop my bid and support him,” Mr Kamau said, his interest now appearing to have shifted to the Kigumo parliamentary seat.
Dr Kang’ata’s main opponent now appears to be Lands Cabinet Secretary Ms Alice Wahome, who has been holding high-profile meetings across the county campaigning against him and promising to unseat him on a UDA ticket in 2027.
“We have a governor who thrives on public relations but has little to show for the transformation of the lives of Murang’a people. He has thrived because no one has applied pressure on him. This time round, we must tell our people the truth, unmask him and vote him out,” Ms Wahome said.
“I cannot engage with the CS publicly along those lines of conflict because, first, as a product of vulture upbringing, I do not trade barbs with the age mates of my parents and, second, as a leader, a parent and an inspiration, that is not the way to go,” he said.
