Former Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu has faulted former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over calls urging political parties in the Mt. Kenya region to unite under the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), saying such appeals threaten the country’s multiparty democracy and disregard the independence of legally registered political parties.
In a statement issued on Wednesday, Wambugu maintained that no politician, regardless of influence or position, can determine the future of another political party. He said decisions on whether a party should merge, form a coalition or dissolve are protected by law and can only be made through the party’s own lawful structures.
“I have noted with growing concern the continued attempts by Hon. Rigathi Gachagua to pressure political parties in the Mt. Kenya region to dissolve themselves and join his political party,” Wambugu said. “As a founder member of the Jubilee Party I wish to state unequivocally that no individual regardless of office or popularity has the legal, political or moral authority to determine the future of another political party.”
He said Kenya’s Constitution protects the right of every citizen to belong to and participate in a political party of their choice, arguing that political competition and diversity are essential to a healthy democracy.
Wambugu also dismissed claims that Gachagua speaks for the entire Mt. Kenya region, saying residents have always exercised independent political choices and should not be expected to rally behind a single political outfit.
“No one has been appointed to speak on behalf of the Mt. Kenya region. Our people are politically diverse, independent-minded and fully capable of making their own choices,” he said.
Looking back at the country’s political history, Wambugu said former Presidents Jomo Kenyatta, Mwai Kibaki and Uhuru Kenyatta never sought to force other parties to dissolve and join their political formations. According to him, leadership should be built through service and persuasion rather than attempts to dominate the political space.
He also cited the election of the late Nderitu Gachagua as Nyeri governor in 2013 under a different political party from that of then-President Uhuru Kenyatta, saying the outcome reflected the region’s long-standing tradition of embracing political competition.
“The future of Mt. Kenya will not be secured by herding everyone into one political party. It will be secured by protecting the democratic freedoms that allow ideas, leaders and political parties to compete openly and fairly,” Wambugu added.
His remarks come as more leaders from the Mt. Kenya region continue to oppose calls for all parties to operate under one political banner.
Democratic Party leader Justin Muturi, Party of National Unity (PNU) leader Peter Munya and Devolution Empowerment Party leader Lenny Kivuti have all insisted that political parties should remain independent while working together through a coalition ahead of the 2027 General Election.
Gachagua, however, dismissed the criticism, saying he has never asked any political party to dissolve but has consistently supported the formation of a coalition made up of strong and independent parties.
“I believe in many political parties because they will give us many agents… I have never encouraged anybody to fold their political party,” Gachagua said while addressing a delegation from Murang’a County at his Wamunyoro residence on Wednesday.
He urged Muturi, Munya and Kivuti to focus on strengthening their respective parties, saying a coalition with several affiliate parties would be better placed to safeguard votes during the 2027 General Election.
Gachagua pointed to the recent Ol Kalou by-election as an example of how multiple political parties can strengthen the opposition by deploying more election agents.
He added that coalition partners should be free to field candidates for various elective positions while uniting behind a single presidential candidate.