Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba has deployed her trademark sarcasm to dismantle rumors that she was paid Sh250 million to defect to President William Ruto’s camp.

The fiery legislator, who has been a thorn in the administration's flesh for months, stunned political observers by attending the UDA National Governing Council (NGC) meeting at State House. Confronted with allegations that her newfound loyalty was purchased with a cool quarter-billion shillings, Wamuchomba did not deny being "bought"—she simply redefined the currency.

"My Price is Development"

"They say I was bought. Yes, I was bought!" Wamuchomba declared, owning the narrative. "But I was bought with roads. I was bought with water projects. I was bought with the completion of the markets in Githunguri."

In a masterclass of political spin, she framed her defection from former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s camp not as a betrayal, but as a transactional victory for her constituents. By attending the State House meeting, she effectively signaled the collapse of the "rebel" faction in Mt. Kenya, declaring her support for Ruto’s 2027 re-election bid with the slogan: "Yangu ni three term, ya Rais ni two term" (My goal is three terms, the President’s is two).

• The Pivot: Wamuchomba, previously the face of the "One Man, One Vote, One Shilling" crusade, has pragmatically aligned with the center of power to unlock frozen development funds.
• The Gachagua Factor: Her exit leaves the former DP increasingly isolated, stripping his camp of its most vocal and articulate defender.
• Constituency First: Her defense—that she is a mercenary for her voters' interests rather than her own pocket—is a calculated gamble to retain grassroots support despite the flip-flop.

The End of Resistance?

Wamuchomba’s capitulation marks a turning point in Central Kenya politics. If the region’s fiercest critic can be "bought" with development projects, the path to a unified UDA machine in 2027 looks significantly smoother. For her critics, it’s a sellout; for Wamuchomba, it’s the art of the deal.