Gachagua turns political heat on Kiambaa MP Kawanjiku

Citizens Party leader Rigathi Gachagua has launched a scathing political attack on Kiambaa MP John Njuguna Kawanjiku, accusing him of abandoning the Mt Kenya region and demanding that Kawanjiku be politically rejected. Addressing supporters in Kiambaa on Sunday, Gachagua argued that Kawanjiku represents a political establishment opposing his efforts to mobilize the Mt Kenya area.

"Our problem is William Ruto and his allies. First here in Kiambaa, Kawanjiku is the biggest threat to our community," Gachagua stated. The Kiambaa MP's role in the violent July 16, 2026, Ol Kalou by-election was also under scrutiny, with Gachagua alleging that Kawanjiku was involved in the chaos and responsible for the injuries and deaths reported during the unrest.

"In Ol Kalou, Kawanjiku led a mob that beat and ran over two people and injured others," Gachagua claimed, without providing any evidence to support his assertion. Kawanjiku has previously denied any involvement in the violence, stating that his presence in Ol Kalou was due to his role as an election agent using his personal vehicle.

Gachagua admitted that he initially supported Kawanjiku politically but now regrets his decision, acknowledging that he had misjudged the MP. "I, Rigathi Gachagua, supported Kawanjiku without fully understanding him, and now I regret that decision," Gachagua admitted. The MP's remarks escalated the political rivalry between Gachagua and leaders allied with the Kenya Kwanza administration, shifting focus from the Ol Kalou controversy to a broader contest over who should control Mt Kenya politics ahead of the 2027 General Election.