Moses Kuria claims Kang’ata will join Gachagua’s DCP party
By Kenneth Mwenda, May 4, 2026Former Cabinet Secretary Moses Kuria has claimed that Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata will eventually join former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), even as the governor insists he is still weighing his political options ahead of the 2027 general election.
Kuria made the remarks during a late-night television interview on Sunday, May 3, 2026, where he responded to Kang’ata’s recent announcement that he will not defend his seat on the UDA ticket.
Kang’ata had told reporters earlier that he would stay in UDA until the end of his term but would not use the party to defend his seat in 2027. He also said he had not yet settled on the party he would use for his re-election bid.
But Kuria questioned that position, saying it was either incomplete or deliberately vague.
“I want to look at the fact that Governor Kang’ata has said that he is in UDA until 2027. I think that is honesty, as opposed to many people who are in UDA, they know they will not be in UDA, but they are pretentious about it,” Kuria said.
He argued that politicians should be more open about their intentions instead of hiding behind party loyalty.
“There is nothing wrong; it is his democratic right to belong to that party. We need honest political conversations in this country,” he added.
Kuria, however, went further and suggested that Kang’ata’s political direction is already clear.
“But as to saying he does not know which party, that is a lie. He is going to be on DCP,” Kuria said.
Gachagua DCP pressure claim
He linked his prediction to political pressure allegedly coming from former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua, claiming that the DCP ticket structure is already influencing choices in Mt Kenya politics.
“No, of course he has been written publicly by Rigathi Gachagua that irrespective of what he does, if Kang’ata does not move to DCP, then Wairagu is going to be given a DCP ticket,” he said.
Kuria said this kind of pressure explains the political uncertainty around Kang’ata’s next move.
“He has been threatened and he has succumbed to the threat. Which for me is sad, because how can you say that irrespective of development work, if you are not on this party you are not going to be elected?” he posed.
He criticised the idea of politicians switching parties for electoral survival rather than ideology or policy alignment.
“I am personally opposed to people moving to a party not because of belief in ideology, not because of shared vision, but simply just to win a seat. For me it is incomprehensible,” Kuria said.
His remarks come at a time when UDA is facing internal strain following Kang’ata’s announcement that he will not defend his seat on the party’s ticket. The governor’s comments have already triggered sharp reactions from senior leaders, including National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah, who accused Kang’ata of dishonesty and political gamesmanship.
Kang’ata, however, has maintained that his decision is based on internal disagreements within UDA and the need to reflect the will of voters in Murang’a. He has insisted that he will remain in the ruling party until the end of his term, even as he explores other political options.