Former Nyeri Town Member of Parliament Ngunjiri Wambugu has launched a sharp attack on former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua over the performance of his Democracy for the Citizen (DCP) party’s candidate in the upcoming Olkalou by-election, Sammy Douglas Kamau Waweru, saying that he exposed himself in a candidates’ debate organised on a TV station.

In a statement shared on social media on Monday, July 6, 2026, Wambugu has said that Gachagua made a strategic mistake by allowing his preferred Ol Kalou candidate to appear on a television interview before the by-election, arguing that the appearance exposed what he described as the candidate’s lack of preparedness.

“Jofri should have kept his Ol Kalou candidate away from TV, then no one would have known the fellow is clueless until after the elections. But now we can all see the kind of people Jofri will run under his party,” Wambugu wrote.

Olkalou’s test for Mt Kenya supremacy

The remarks from the former lawmaker followed a debate with all the candidates vying for the Olkalou by-election slated for July 16, run on a local TV station on Sunday, July 5, 2026. The race has emerged as a huge contest between the ruling party’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA) and Rigathi Gachagua’s DCP.

The by-election has attracted significant attention due to its perceived influence on the political landscape in the Mt Kenya region, with both sides of the political divide seeking to prove their influence in the vote-rich region ahead of the 2027 general elections.

Wambugu’s comments appeared aimed not only at the candidate but also at Gachagua’s leadership and judgement in selecting individuals to fly the flag of his political outfit.

The criticism comes as parties continue to campaign aggressively, seeking to convince voters that they offer the strongest leadership for the constituency.