Ngunjiri Wambugu questions purpose of Gachagua rallies around Ruto’s Mt Kenya trips
By Mabonga Makhanu, January 25, 2026Former Nyeri Town MP Ngunjiri Wambugu has questioned the purpose of former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s Mount Kenya trips around President William Ruto’s visits to the region.
In a statement shared on his social media pages on Sunday, January 25, 2025, the former MP stated that every time the president announces a visit or after visiting the mountain, the Democracy for Citizens (DCP) party leader would often organise rallies immediately before or immediately after to ‘poison the ground’ against the state.
He went on to sympathise with aspirants from the DCP party who, according to him, have the role of mobilising crowds for the DCP boss to showcase his political prowess.
According to Wambugu, the rallies are always meant to counter the influence and impact of what the President has done.
“Does this mean every time Ruto is coming to Nyeri, Jofri will hold rallies immediately before & immediately after to kuchafua ground against him? Si atachokesha Nyeri aspirants sana na mobilisation? Alafu kwani he doesn’t trust us?” he asked.
Gachagua’s Mt Kenya tours
This comes amid Gachagua’s tours in Mt Kenya, where Gunjiri still doubts if they are organic. Today, entering the second day, he conducted rallies in Karatina and some parts of Kirinyaga, where large crowds came out to listen to him and his DCP entourage.
It was during the rally that his DCP footsoldiers, led by Cleophas Malala, endorsed him as the most suitable person to be the flag bearer of the United Opposition in their quest to challenge President William Ruto in 2027.
This also comes at a time when President William Ruto is set to tour the county. Ruto has been making visits to Nyeri, the latest being two weeks ago, where he launched the Affordable Housing Program, Nyota Fund activation and even attended a church.
It was at this point that County Governor Mutahi Kahiga, who in the past was a close ally of the former DP, switched camps from the opposition and declared that he is firmly in the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) party and would support the President’s reelection in 2027.