Wamuchomba declares Uhuru Kenyatta Mt Kenya kingpin, escalating political rivalry with Gachagua camp

Mount Kenya’s political divisions deepened after Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba openly declared former president Uhuru Kenyatta the region’s kingpin, reigniting the battle for control of the mountain vote.

In a strongly worded Facebook post, Wamuchomba blasted allies of former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua, particularly members of the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), for “demeaning” Uhuru. She warned that persistent attacks on the former head of state amounted to disrespecting Kiambu residents.

“Attacking Uhuru is despising Kiambu and Kenya at large. Let it be clear, you attack Uhuru, you attack Kiambu county and we are watching,” Wamuchomba said.

She defended Uhuru’s decade-long presidency, noting he neither faced impeachment nor attempted to impeach his deputy, describing him as a unifying leader with the right to endorse his political successor.

Her remarks come amid heightened rivalry in the region, with Gachagua styling himself as Mt Kenya’s kingpin since his fallout with President William Ruto and subsequent impeachment in 2024.

Wamuchomba accused Gachagua’s allies of double standards, questioning their attempts to inherit Uhuru’s political machinery while openly discrediting him. She also dismissed claims of betrayal following Uhuru’s endorsement of former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i for the 2027 presidency.

“If Uhuru is betraying you by courting Matiang’i, when did you sit and agree with him that you are next in line? We are in a democratic country and we all have rights to associate,” she said, adding that Kiambu was not a colony of Nyeri.

The MP insisted Uhuru remains a respected statesman admired both within and outside Mt Kenya, urging leaders to prove their strength through performance rather than smear campaigns.