The EALA MP and former Kieleweke hardliner ends his political isolation, declaring Rigathi Gachagua’s party the new ‘home’ for Mt Kenya’s future leadership.

The political realignment in Mt. Kenya has claimed another big fish. Kanini Kega, the East African Legislative Assembly (EALA) MP and a former stalwart of the Jubilee Party, has officially jumped ship. In a move that surprised few but confirmed the shifting tides, Kega was welcomed into the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) by its leader, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, on Wednesday.

"Welcome Home Hon. Kanini Kega," Gachagua tweeted, embracing the man who was once his fiercest critic during the height of the 2022 campaigns. Kega, a former Kieni MP, was a key figure in the "Kieleweke" faction that vehemently opposed William Ruto and backed the Uhuru-Raila handshake. His defection signals the final collapse of the old Jubilee order and the consolidation of the region under Gachagua’s new political vehicle.

The Return of the Prodigal Son

Kega’s journey has been one of dramatic highs and lows. After losing his seat in the UDA wave of 2022, he found refuge in Arusha as an EALA MP. His return to domestic politics through the DCP suggests a pragmatic calculation: that the road to 2027 runs through Gachagua, not the moribund Jubilee Party.

• The Consolidation Strategy: Gachagua is methodically picking off the remnants of Uhuru Kenyatta’s support base, rebranding himself as the unifying figure for the mountain region.
• The 2027 Game Plan: With Kega and Nelson Havi joining on the same day, the DCP is positioning itself as a "third force"—a home for professionals and seasoned politicians who feel alienated by the current UDA structure.

A New Chapter

For Kega, this is a reinvention. "DCP is the home of progressive leaders," he stated, echoing the party line. But beneath the rhetoric lies the cold reality of survival. In the volatile world of Kenyan politics, sticking with a dead party is suicide.

As Gachagua builds his ark, Kanini Kega has decided to get on board before the rain starts. Whether the voters of Kieni will forgive his past allegiances remains the ultimate test.