Former Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu has challenged Mt Kenya region leadership to start strategising for 2027 General Election.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua's right-hand man Ngunjiri Wambugu has also defected to Uhuru Kenyatta's Jubilee Party, saying President William Ruto will most likely not be a one-term president.
He said anger against President Ruto and his loyalists was subsiding in Mt Kenya.
"People are healing. From the anger in November over the Gachagua impeachment, where people couldn't listen to their leaders, today they are listening".
He condemned any attempt to form a political party in Mt Kenya that would seek to push others out of competition.
"I cannot support one party dictatorship because even if it helps me, it cannot be fair to all. As a God-fearing person, I stand for justice and fairness. I cannot lose my character and principles for the sake of convenience... We should let multi-party democracy prevail," he said.
Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu at a past function.
He said: "We are not in a unique moment. In 2005, we had a referendum that was about getting rid of the government. People were as angry with the Mwai Kibaki government as they are with President Ruto today.
He added that the same fate had befallen President Uhuru Kenyatta in his first two years in office, but both ended up serving 10 uninterrupted years.
"I know there are people in Ruto's government who are trying to figure out how to make his government popular. They will motivate themselves to make this government succeed. I hope there are people who will correct the mistakes," he said.
He added: "Anyone can be a one-term president, but we have not seen that yet. I don't think there is anyone who is contesting to fail. Ruto is an exceptional person... it takes an exceptional person to be president... I know there are serious people looking for a way out".
Mr Wambugu added: "I pray that there are people who will do whatever it takes not to make Ruto a one-term president... The problem with a one-term presidency is that a successor will also face turbulence in the first two years... The inspiration is that they usually get it right in the other years to go up to 10 years".
Speaking on Kogi's Corner TV on Tuesday night, Mr Wambugu dismissed Mr Gachagua's planned launch of a Mt Kenya party later this month as the beginning of a one-party dictatorship.
Former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua addresses journalists at his Wamunyoro home in Nyeri County on December 27, 2024.
He said his relationship with Mr Gachagua was to help him build on his communications when he was deputy president.
"I was not there as a politician. I was there as a professional. After the impeachment against him in October 2024, my work came to an end. I'm now back to my politics as an independent actor," he said.
He added that it should also be noted that when he served in Gachagua's office from June 2023, he first worked for the general presidency that included President Ruto.
"It was on November 1, 2023 that I became Gachagua's communications expert and my job was to brand him out of the problems he was having in terms of his public image. It was during this period when he was still in office that he started making efforts to consolidate the mountain and make it his constituency," said Mr Wambugu.
He complained that the Gachagua camp has since started vilifying him after he left office.
"I can now criticise Gachagua, but I cannot defame him. We should always be careful not to be forced to eat our own vomit... I have learnt the practical way. I have been with Raila Odinga, left him, reunited with him and I know today that it is never wise to slam the door when you leave," he said.
He said there are those who say "I corrupted delegations to Wamunyoro by demanding cash from visitors. These are lies. If someone decides to leave, let them go in peace. Don't slander them to gain importance. Just take over the work in peace and deliver. Let others go in peace," he said.
Mr Wambugu's stance presents two major dilemmas in understanding what is happening in Mt Kenya politics.
According to former Mt Kenya MCA caucus leader Charles Mwangi, it is now unclear where the Jubilee Party stands and how stable Gachagua politics are.
"Politics is a very interesting game full of deception. Mr Wambugu even said that the only recognised king of Mt Kenya is Mr Kenyatta. Mr Kenyatta publicly shook hands with President Ruto in December last year. We are at interesting moments," said Mr Mwangi.
He added that "Mr Wambugu's defection from the Gachagua wing and the scathing attack against him heralds a realignment at play that does not respect appearances".
Mr Mwangi said "we are now not too sure whether Mr Kenyatta is in Gachagua's wing or playing independently... or even supporting President Ruto in a diversionary manner".
Mr Wambugu said the Jubilee Party was opposed to any move to create a political party that would be used as the exclusive vehicle for Kenya's 2027 bid.
"I am Jubilee. As a democracy, we cannot be a one party dictatorship. I have a problem with that, we cannot have a Gachagua party that is for all in Mt Kenya. That would undermine our ability to mobilise voters for 2027," said Mr Wambugu.
On Gachagua's claim that all other parties in Mt Kenya are Ruto's wheelbarrows, Mr Wambugu said "that is not a strategically sound statement".
Mr Wambugu, who has played on Mt Kenya's opposing terraces for the better part of his political life, said the bad thing about Gachagua's one-party drive is the same thing that makes Raila Odinga lose the presidency.
"With one party in his backyard, the turnout in support of Mr Odinga averages 66 per cent. Once an ODM person gets a nomination certificate, he or she is a done deal, so people see no reason to vote in the general election. With many parties competing, voter turnout improves, which is why we average 95 per cent turnout in Mt Kenya," he said.
He said Mr Kenyatta's Jubilee Party wanted a stake in 2027.
"We are a party that is funded by the exchequer, we are not going to let that go by closing ourselves," he said.
While most politicians in Mt Kenya who oppose President Ruto usually refer to him as Kasongo, Mr Wambugu told him the President is William.
Referring to someone by their baptismal name is an English way of showing the highest level of respect.
Mr Wambugu said he has heard many people telling him that if he does not stick to Gachagua, he will not win the Nyeri Town parliamentary seat he is eyeing after being kicked out by Duncan Mathenge in 2022 after serving one term.
"That is not the case, this seat is about going for it, it is being contested. We don't want a 2022 situation where good leaders are kicked out because of a party wave. We want the voters to take the responsibility of endorsing us, not the kingpins deciding for them," he said.
He said he was not sure whether Gachagua's new party could win elections if his loyalists resigned to contest on its ticket.
"Resigning to contest a by-election is very dangerous. Gachagua should not try to be like Mr Odinga whose brand of politics of controlling and endorsing aspirants is becoming obsolete," he said.
He further took a swipe at President Ruto saying "we should not buy into Gachagua's politics of fighting him...we should not engage in politics of selling hate".
He said the country is currently running on too much consummate hate to the point of losing humanity "...we are not empathetic...we even celebrate death and accidents that befall leaders," he said.
He urged Mt Kenya people not to heed Gachagua's call to shout at Ruto when he visits Mt Kenya...we cannot zone ourselves...we cannot balkanise our region.
He said Mr Gachagua was telling people not to insult Mr Kenyatta "but the same people are telling us that they were the same ones who insulted him...let us be careful what we say today lest it be used to justify the same tomorrow".
He urged Mt Kenya to refuse to be told who to vote for.
"Let's not be fools, let's vote for those who are ideal for us...let's not go for 2022 party fever. I don't see Gachagua making another wave," he said.
He warned that Mt Kenya could lose the deputy presidency currently held by Prof Kithure Kindiki.
"We are a crucial voting bloc. If we don't stay with Ruto, we will lose the seat and if we don't get it, we will leave... we are here to help the government work," he said.
