Political Fault Lines Deepen in Mt. Kenya

NAIROBI – Githunguri Member of Parliament Gathoni Wamuchomba on Tuesday, November 4, 2025, launched a blistering attack on former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua and his newly formed Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), vowing she would never be intimidated into joining the political outfit. In a fiery social media post, the UDA-elected legislator derisively nicknamed the DCP the “Maskio Party,” a Swahili term for “Ears Party,” mocking its official symbol of a hand cupped around an ear which is intended to signify listening to the populace.

The public denunciation exposes the widening rifts among political leaders in the vote-rich Mt. Kenya region following Mr. Gachagua's impeachment in October 2024 and his subsequent political break from President William Ruto. Wamuchomba accused Gachagua's allies of running an “Emotional Battalion” that engages in insults and labels any leader from the region who does not align with them as a “mole” and a “betrayer.” “I Will tell you the unpopular truth, I will Not support a murderer, and I have been consistent, but I will not Join maskio party blindly and through intimidations,” Wamuchomba stated, as reported by multiple Kenyan news outlets on Wednesday, November 5, 2025.

Gachagua’s Post-Impeachment Political Vehicle

Former Deputy President Gachagua officially unveiled the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) on May 15, 2025, after resigning from the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) on May 12, 2025. The party, registered with the Registrar of Political Parties on February 3, 2025, has been positioned as Gachagua's vehicle to challenge President Ruto in the 2027 elections. Its slogan is “Kazi na Haki” (Work and Justice), and its symbol is meant to convey a leadership that is “listening to the ground.” Key figures appointed to the party's interim leadership include former UDA Secretary-General Cleophas Malala as Deputy Party Leader and former Agriculture Cabinet Secretary Mithika Linturi as National Organising Secretary.

The formation of the DCP is a strategic move by Gachagua to consolidate his political base in Mt. Kenya, a region whose unity has been fractured since the 2022 election. However, Wamuchomba's fierce opposition highlights the significant challenges he faces in achieving this unity. Her critique suggests a growing factionalism that could redefine regional political alliances leading up to the next electoral cycle.

Echoes of Past Warnings and Future Alignments

In her statement, Wamuchomba invoked the warnings of former President Uhuru Kenyatta, who, during the 2022 election campaigns, cautioned Mt. Kenya residents against electing the Ruto-Gachagua ticket. “In 2022, Uhuru told us not to follow THEM. We told HIM ‘Maliza uende.’ He told us ‘Mtaregret,’” Wamuchomba wrote, claiming the prophecy had come to pass. She cited what she termed as the consequences of that electoral choice: “high taxes, collapsing businesses, demolished homes, reduced tea bonuses, and the painful loss of young lives.”

Wamuchomba, a vocal politician who has previously defied her party's position, notably on the controversial 2023 Finance Bill, appears to be charting an independent course. Reports indicate a potential alignment with other political figures, including former Interior Cabinet Secretary Fred Matiang'i, as she called for Mt. Kenya leaders to unite under a different banner and cease personal attacks. Her criticism extended to Gachagua's recent public remarks, where he allegedly referred to Kiambaa MP John Kawanjiku as a “Tugege” (a foolish person), arguing that the former DP was engaging in petty insults rather than championing the economic interests of the region, such as tea reforms.

The escalating war of words between prominent Mt. Kenya leaders underscores the volatile and shifting nature of Kenyan politics. As Gachagua attempts to build a new political base with the DCP, the vocal resistance from figures like Wamuchomba indicates that the path to consolidating the region's support will be fiercely contested, potentially leading to significant political realignments across the country.