Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba has spoken on defecting from the UDA Party to the DCP Party, insisting she remains loyal to UDA until the end of her current term in 2027.
In a statement on Monday, January 5, the MP claimed that former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua has resorted to threats and insults in an attempt to coerce her into joining DCP.
Wamuchomba noted that similar tactics were used against her during Gachagua’s tenure as Deputy President when she opposed the Finance Bill 2023.
“Now former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua is using threats and insults to intimidate me to join DCP Party. When he was DP, he did the same to intimidate me when I voted ‘No’ for the Finance Bill 2023. God deflated him painfully,” she said.
Wamuchomba also questioned Gachagua’s claims of leadership within the DCP, arguing that official records do not even list him as a registered official of the party.
“He ‘started’ a party which he claims is a ‘mlima’ party and all of us must join. Yet from ORPP records, he’s not even an official, let alone a party leader,” she added.
Wamuchomba further accused Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang’wa of being used to undermine leaders who have declined to associate with DCP, while still holding an elected position under UDA.
She challenged leaders linked to the party to resign and seek fresh mandates through DCP if they are confident in its popularity.
“He’s using Kiambu Senator Karungo Thang’wa to demean those not in the party. Karungo is still a UDA senator screaming about another party. If really this party is strong, why can’t Senators Karungo, Methu Muhia and Joe Nyutu resign first, then we elect them through their new party?” she posed.
Wamuchomba made it clear that she has no intention of defecting and will remain in UDA through to the next general election.
“I’m not joining the DCP Party, and I’m in UDA till 2027,” he concluded.
In her statement, the lawmaker noted that it was not the first time she had faced similar threats from Gachagua, adding that in 2023 she faced a similar situation after voting against the Finance Bill.
Meanwhile, Wamuchomba, who was once an ardent supporter of Gachagua, has now turned out to be one of his greatest critics, accusing him of several misdeeds.
Their fallout stems mid last year after the MP accused the DCP leader of reportedly attempting to monopolise the Mt Kenya region’s political direction.
The difference first came to light when the Githunguri MP failed to attend Gachagua’s party launch, which was held in May last year. Her absence sparked speculations of a potential misunderstanding.
Wamuchomba had on several occasions challenged Gachagua to broaden his focus beyond the Mt Kenya region and rally support from Kenyans in other regions.
