Kiunjuri appears in Nyahururu alongside DCP leaders after UDA’s Ol Kalou defeat
By Ndiritu Wanjiru, July 17, 2026Laikipia East Member of Parliament Mwangi Kiunjuri has sparked fresh political speculation after he was seen in the company of senior Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) leaders in Ol Kalou, days after the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) suffered a humiliating defeat in the constituency’s parliamentary by-election.
Ahead of the press release on Friday, July 17, 2026 Kiunjuri, in a video seen by People Daily Digital, has been spotted alongside DCP officials, which came ahead of an address by former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua in Ol Kalou, a move interpreted as a signal that the seasoned politician could be charting a new political path following UDA’s poor showing in one of its key political battlegrounds.
The development comes hours after the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) declared DCP candidate Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru the winner of the Ol Kalou parliamentary by-election.
Kamau secured a landslide 35,440 votes, comfortably defeating UDA’s Samuel Muchina, who garnered 5,450 votes in one of the widest victory margins witnessed in recent by-elections.
Video fuels alliance speculation
Although the former CS has not publicly announced his departure from Kenya Kwanza or UDA’s political fold, his presence at the event has intensified speculation that he could be aligning himself with Gachagua’s growing opposition movement.
The seasoned lawmaker was on the front lines of campaigns in the Ol Kalou by-elections, championing the election of the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) candidate.
Kiunjuri has remained a prominent political figure in the Mt Kenya region through his The Service Party (TSP) under the Kenya Kwanza Alliance, but his latest appearance suggests he may be reconsidering his political alliances as the country’s political landscape continues to evolve ahead of the 2027 General Election.
His attendance at the DCP gathering is particularly significant given that Ol Kalou has emerged as a symbolic battleground in the contest for political influence in the Mt Kenya region.
UDA defeat reshapes Mt Kenya politics
UDA’s heavy loss in the Ol Kalou by-election has triggered fresh debate over the party’s standing in the region despite an intensive campaign mounted by senior government officials.
President William Ruto’s allies, including several Cabinet secretaries and principal secretaries, had campaigned vigorously for UDA candidate Samuel Muchina, with the government unveiling a series of development projects in the constituency during the campaign period.
Despite those efforts, voters overwhelmingly backed the DCP candidate, handing Rigathi Gachagua’s party a decisive victory that has been viewed by many as a significant political statement from the Mt Kenya region.
Focus shifts to Gachagua’s address
Attention is now turning to Rigathi Gachagua’s address in Ol Kalou, where the former deputy president is expected to celebrate the by-election victory and outline the opposition’s next political steps.
Kiunjuri’s presence alongside DCP leaders ahead of the event is likely to fuel further speculation over whether he is preparing to formally work with Gachagua as political realignments gather pace in the aftermath of UDA’s defeat.