Former Nyeri Town Member of Parliament Ngunjiri Wambugu has officially welcomed Mount Kenya gospel artiste Ngaruiya Junior to the Jubilee Party.

Through his social media platforms, Wambugu extended an open invitation not only to Ngaruiya but also to other musicians and aspiring leaders who intend to vie for various elective positions in the upcoming 2027 General Election to join Jubilee.

This announcement comes shortly after remarks made by the former Deputy President during a church service in Murang’a County, where he dismissed Ngaruiya Junior’s political ambitions by referring to him as a Class Two dropout, stating that he would not offer him a party ticket to contest for a parliamentary seat.

The statement has triggered widespread backlash, with many Kenyans criticising the remarks as elitist and discriminatory.

In response, Ngunjiri Wambugu emphasised that the choice of leadership should rest with the electorate, not party elites.

Gachagua’s remarks

On May 25, 2025, during a church service at AIPCA Kihoya in Murang’a County, former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua addressed claims made by gospel singer Ngaruiya Junior, who had accused him of denying him a Democratic for Citizens Party (DCP) ticket to contest the Subukia parliamentary seat in the 2027 elections.

Gachagua admitted to blocking Ngaruiya’s bid, citing his lack of formal education. He claimed the singer dropped out of school in Standard 2 and questioned how such a candidate could be entrusted with parliamentary responsibilities.

He dismissed Ngaruiya’s qualifications, insisting that leadership required both intellect and substance.

He also took issue with Ngaruiya for raising the matter in the presence of Deputy President Kithure Kindiki and argued that the Mount Kenya region needed capable leaders to avoid being politically sidelined on the national stage.

According to Gachagua, a strong educational background was essential for anyone seeking to represent the region in Parliament.

Gachagua’s ire towards musicians

Gachagua’s ire extended to a group of prominent Kikuyu musicians, including Samidoh Muchoki, Karangu Muraya, Ben Githae, Jose Gatutura, DJ Fatxo, Sammy Irungu, Martin Wajanet, and Ngaruiya Junior, who had met Deputy President Kithure Kindiki to discuss challenges facing the creative industry, such as low earnings, exploitation by cartels, and issues with the Music Copyright Society of Kenya (MCSK).

During the meeting, some artistes, notably Karangu Muraya, praised certain government initiatives like the Social Health Authority (SHA), with Muraya noting that it had covered his brother’s hospital bill.

Gachagua labelled the musicians “traitors” for engaging with Kindiki and endorsing government policies, accusing them of undermining the interests of the Mount Kenya community. He called for a boycott of the artists, urging residents to stop listening to their music and to avoid attending their performances until they issued a formal apology to the community.

He claimed that local elders were “very angry” about the musicians’ actions and had demanded an apology to avoid what he described as a “sweeping economic and social boycott”. Gachagua warned, “Those who went to Ruto to ask for forgiveness—if they don’t apologise, I will ensure no one listens to their music, and no clubs will invite them to perform.”

He further encouraged fans to unfollow the artists on social media and urged clubs and event organisers across the Mount Kenya region to bar them from performing, framing their visit to Kindiki as a betrayal of regional unity.