A political storm is brewing within the Democratic Party (DP) after its acting deputy leader, Embu Senator Alexander Mundigi, vehemently rejected claims he betrayed the party in the hotly contested Mbeere North by-election. Through his lawyer, the high-profile Danstan Omari, the senator has challenged the party's disciplinary process as procedurally flawed and unconstitutional.

The dispute thrusts into the open the simmering tensions within the Kenya Kwanza coalition, where constituent parties are grappling with loyalty tests. At its core, the issue is whether Mundigi sabotaged his party's candidate, Newton Kariuki, in favour of the eventual winner, Leonard Muthende of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA), a partner party in the ruling coalition.

High-Stakes By-Election Sparks Feud

The controversy stems from a warning letter dated November 18, authored by the DP's leadership, which accused Mundigi of gross misconduct for openly supporting a non-DP candidate. The party's Secretary-General, Jacob Haji, later contacted the senator on December 15 while he was on official duty in Uganda to press the matter.

In his defense, Mundigi argues that the Democratic Party has never formally exited the Kenya Kwanza coalition agreement. His legal team contends that until the party's highest organs—the National Delegates Committee and the National Governing Council—pass a resolution to leave the coalition, he is within his rights to support any candidate under the Kenya Kwanza banner.

The Mbeere North by-election was a nail-biting contest that saw UDA's Muthende clinch the seat with 15,802 votes against 15,308 for DP's Kariuki—a razor-thin margin of just 494 votes. The high voter turnout of nearly 62% underscored the intense local and national interest in the race.

A Question of Party Loyalty

The Democratic Party has warned Mundigi that his alleged actions could lead to severe disciplinary measures, including expulsion from the party he helps lead. However, his lawyer, Danstan Omari, has countered that the party failed to follow its own constitution by issuing threats without granting the senator a fair hearing.

Mundigi's camp has highlighted his consistent financial contributions to the party as evidence of his loyalty and has framed the disciplinary threat as an attempt to undermine his leadership role. The senator, a first-term lawmaker elected in 2022, rose to prominence with a grassroots campaign, defeating several political heavyweights despite having limited financial resources.

With both sides digging in, the Democratic Party faces a critical decision. Pursuing disciplinary action could trigger a damaging public fallout with its only senator, while backing down might be perceived as a weakness in enforcing party discipline, a cornerstone of strong political institutions. The outcome will not only determine Mundigi's political future but also signal the future of inter-party relations within Kenya's ruling coalition.