Governor Irungu Kang’ata Dumps UDA for Gachagua’s DCP Ahead of 2027 General Election
The announcement, made on Friday, July 24, delivers a major political boost to the newly formed DCP, which has been aggressively positioning itself as an alternative political vehicle in the vote-rich Mt Kenya region following Gachagua’s fallout with President William Ruto and the ruling party.
His formal entry into DCP follows months of growing political closeness with Gachagua, including recent appearances alongside leaders allied to the Linda Mwananchi movement, which has increasingly become associated with the former Deputy President’s political camp.
Gachagua Welcomes Kang’ata to DCP
“Welcome home, Governor Irungu Kang’ata, where you belong,” Gachagua said in a statement released shortly after receiving the governor at his Wamunyoro Residence in Nyeri County.
He later added:
“Today at Wamunyoro Residence, I was pleased to receive my younger brother, Governor Irungu Kang’ata, Governor of Murang’a County, as a member of our party, DCP, the party of the moment and the future.”
The event was attended by several senior leaders allied to DCP, including the party’s designated Secretary-General Senator John Methu, National Organising Secretary Senator Mithika Linturi, Murang’a Senator Joe Nyutu, Kiambu Senator Karungo wa Thang’wa, Kirinyaga Senator Kamau Murango, and other regional leaders.
Major Boost for DCP
Kang’ata’s defection significantly strengthens DCP’s political profile, making him the first sitting governor to officially join the party.
According to Gachagua, the party now boasts representation across different levels of government, including a governor, Members of Parliament and Members of County Assembly.
The development follows DCP’s victory in the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election held on July 16, where the party secured its first parliamentary seat after candidate Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru defeated the UDA candidate.
Following that victory, Gachagua declared that DCP’s ambition extends beyond regional politics.
“We are determined to become the majority party in Parliament and across County Assemblies,” he said after the by-election results.
Political analysts view Kang’ata’s move as likely to encourage further defections, particularly from leaders dissatisfied with UDA’s internal politics in the Mt Kenya region.
Political Journey
Kang’ata has remained one of the region’s most prominent political figures for over a decade.
He first entered Parliament in 2013, winning the Kiharu parliamentary seat under The National Alliance (TNA), the party that backed former President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Throughout his political career, Kang’ata has largely aligned himself with the dominant political formations in the Mt Kenya region, making his latest move particularly significant in the evolving political landscape.
UDA Retains Regional Presence
Despite Kang’ata’s departure, UDA continues to hold substantial influence across the Mt Kenya region.
The ruling party still controls the majority of county governments in the broader region, with eight governors remaining under its banner, underscoring its continued organizational strength despite recent defections.
However, Kang’ata’s exit represents another symbolic setback for UDA as competition intensifies ahead of 2027.
Battle for Mt Kenya Intensifies
The governor’s defection comes as political parties intensify efforts to consolidate support in Mt Kenya, one of Kenya’s most influential voting blocs.
Meanwhile, President William Ruto and UDA leaders have also stepped up engagements in the region as they seek to retain support that proved crucial during the 2022 presidential election.
With more than two years remaining before the next General Election, Kang’ata’s decision is expected to reshape political calculations not only in Murang’a County but across the wider Mt Kenya region, where competition between UDA and DCP is steadily emerging as one of the defining political contests heading into 2027.
Governor Irungu Kang’ata Dumps UDA for Gachagua’s DCP Ahead of 2027 General Election
