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Member of Parliament, Kiambaa
Born
1986(40 yrs)
County
Kiambu
Constituency
Kiambaa
Public Views
Experience
Documented career positions
John Njuguna Wanjiku, popularly known as “Ka-Wanjiku”, is the Member of Parliament for Kiambaa Constituency in Kiambu County. He first captured national attention in July 2021, when he won the Kiambaa parliamentary by-election on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket, defeating Jubilee’s Kariri Njama by a razor-thin margin of about 500 votes (21,773 vs 21,263). The win made him the first UDA MP in the Mt Kenya region, widely read as a symbolic breach of President Uhuru Kenyatta’s Kiambu stronghold by then–Deputy President William Ruto. He was comfortably re-elected in the 2022 general election, consolidating his status as a key Kenya Kwanza ally from Kiambu. Born in 1986 and raised by a single mother in Gatono village in Kiambaa, Njuguna often frames his story through the “hustler” narrative. Before politics, he worked in informal and business ventures and served as a lay preacher/evangelist, experiences he says shaped his grassroots connection. During the 2021 campaigns he reported being abducted and dumped in Burnt Forest, Uasin Gishu, allegedly for organising a Ruto event in Banana, Kiambu—an ordeal that further amplified his “persecuted hustler” image. In Parliament, he is an outspoken backbencher associated with the pro-Ruto wing, active on contentious legislation such as the Political Parties (Amendment) Bill and Finance Bills.
Historic UDA breakthrough (2021): Became the first UDA MP elected in Mt Kenya by winning the Kiambaa by-election, signalling a major shift in the region’s politics and boosting Ruto’s presidential momentum.
Two-term MP for Kiambaa: Successfully defended his seat in 2022, securing a full five-year mandate and reinforcing his position as a central Kenya Kwanza figure in Kiambu.
Kiambaa by-election petition and rigging claims: His 2021 victory was challenged in court by a voter alleging electoral malpractices, tallying irregularities and inflated results, though he ultimately retained the seat; the case fuelled debate over IEBC’s management of the by-election
Dress-code and swearing-in drama: His swearing-in as the first UDA MP sparked a dress-code controversy and boisterous celebrations by UDA-aligned MPs in the House, briefly disrupting proceedings and drawing criticism over parliamentary decorum.
Finance Bill and representation criticism: His votes and public remarks around Finance Bills have attracted pushback from sections of his constituency and opinion writers, some arguing he has blurred lines in separation of powers or not fully reflected grassroots opposition to new taxes.
Champion of small businesses and “hustler” agenda: Campaigned and continues to speak strongly on MSME support, youth opportunities and church-linked community projects, branding himself as a grassroots “empowerment” MP.
Visible voice in national debates: Has taken prominent positions on high-stakes legislation, including opposing aspects of the Political Parties (Amendment) Bill and later defending his stance on Finance Bills, making him a recognisable face in national policy conversations.
Public clash with Rigathi Gachagua: In 2024–2025 he openly criticised former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, accusing him of political witch-hunts, intimidation and belittling Mt Kenya MPs—comments that exposed deeper factions within the region’s politics and put him at the centre of a high-profile intra-camp feud.