Gachagua’s home MP Wamumbi dismisses one-party narrative in Mt Kenya

Mathira Member of Parliament Eric Wamumbi has dismissed efforts to portray Mt Kenya as the preserve of a single political party, saying voters are likely to judge leaders largely by their record rather than party affiliation.

Speaking on K24 TV on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, Wamumbi said the region has several political parties and should remain open to different political formations under Kenya’s multi-party democracy.

“Of course there is a multi-party democracy, and to this extent I say there are so many parties in Mt. Kenya,” Wamumbi said.

He listed the Democracy for Citizens Party (DCP), Ndindi Nyoro’s People’s Party, Mwangi Kiunjuri’s The Service Party (TSP) and Jubilee among the parties with a presence in the region.

“There is DCP, there is the People’s Party by Ndindi Nyoro, there is TSP by Mwangi Kiunjuri, there is Jubilee that is a mountain party,” he said.

“I say let them be. Let them be.”

Wamumbi questions ‘one party’ narrative

Wamumbi appeared to take issue with what he described as contradictory political messaging by DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua.

He said Gachagua had previously stated that he would not agree to political zoning, while also presenting Mt Kenya as having one political party when appearing alongside Narc Kenya leader Martha Karua.

“I heard the DCP leader the other day say that he is not going to agree to zoning,” Wamumbi said.

“When he comes to Mt. Kenya, he says, and when he is with Martha Karua there, he says that the Mlima party is one.”

Wamumbi questioned Karua’s response to the remarks.

“And I usually see Martha Karua clap, and I wonder, why are you clapping? You have your own party and this guy is saying that we only have one party.”

He also pointed to Gachagua’s political engagements outside Mt Kenya.

“He goes to Ukambani with Kalonzo Musyoka to drum up support for his party when he is with Kalonzo Musyoka,” Wamumbi said.

The MP also referenced remarks by Gachagua concerning Jubilee.

“Yesterday he said that Jubilee is dead. When he was receiving the member for Kamukunji, he said that Jubilee is dead. And he is saying that he is working with other political party leaders.”

‘Let all the parties be’

Wamumbi said the existence of multiple political parties should not be viewed as a problem in Mt Kenya.

“So in Mt. Kenya I say let all the parties be, let all the parties be, because we have multi-party democracy,” he said.

He argued that the political conversation should move beyond party labels and focus on leaders’ performance.

“And it’s no longer about parties. It is about what you have done to the people regardless of which party you are in,” he said.

Parties may not determine 2027 vote

Asked whether political parties would ultimately determine the outcome of the next election, Wamumbi said they could influence voters but would not be decisive on their own.

“To some extent they might, to some extent they might, but not… not to a 100%,” he said.

“To some extent yes, but largely is what you have done to the people.”

When the interviewer clarified whether he meant what leaders had done for the people, Wamumbi responded: “Yes.”

His remarks come as political parties and leaders position themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election, with competing formations seeking influence across Mt Kenya and other regions.

Wamumbi’s position places emphasis on individual political records rather than attempts to consolidate voters behind a single party.