Wangui Ngirici: Njeri Maina denied me chance to address Kirinyaga rally

Former Kirinyaga woman representative Purity Wangui Ngirici recounted the recent events at the DCP rally in Kirinyaga, where she was denied a platform to speak. Speaking to a local media station on Friday, August 28, 2026, the outspoken politician accused area Woman Representative Njeri Maina of making the decision to exclude her from addressing the crowd at two stopovers.

“The Kirinyaga Woman Representative was the one tasked with inviting aspirants to the podium,” Ngirici stated. “She had been given a list of the aspirants but, in her own wisdom, decided not to invite me. Other aspirants who had mobilised for the event were also denied a chance to speak.”

Ngirici alleged that it was Maina’s responsibility to invite aspirants to speak to the people, but she was left out in favour of other candidates. The same exclusion reportedly occurred at the subsequent stopovers. However, the crowd grew vociferous in her support upon reaching Kiamang’ombe, compelling the party leadership to relent and invite her to address the assembly.

This occurred a day after Kirinyaga Woman Representative Njeri Maina held a press conference, blaming Ngirici for disruptions during the rally. Maina claimed that Ngirici had brought goons to the event and that unrest had become commonplace since she joined the DCP campaign trail. Maina called for an inquiry into the chaos, citing several injuries and placing the blame squarely on Ngirici.

The latest developments follow a week after the initial incident, during which Ngirici was barred from addressing the crowd. DCP party leader Rigathi Gachagua expressed his disapproval, stating that he would not tolerate violent or inciting individuals within the party. Gachagua’s remarks appeared to endorse Ngirici’s rival, Kirinyaga Senator Kamau Murango, for the gubernatorial position in her presence.

Despite the controversies, chants of "Wangui, Wangui" resonated at the various stopovers. Ngirici remains steadfast, asserting that despite the internal party dynamics and her status as an apparent underdog, she will not succumb to the temptation of becoming an independent candidate, as she did in 2022 following a fallout with Governor Anne Waiguru from the United Democratic Alliance (UDA).

Instead, she vowed to continue fighting from within the DCP, confident that the party's nominations will ultimately shape the outcome.