Kimani Ichung’wa has publicly accused Murang’a Governor Irungu Kang’ata of aggressively lobbying to become deputy president following the dramatic ouster of Rigathi Gachagua.
Ichung’wa, the National Assembly Majority Leader, made this accusation during a live interview on Citizen TV’s Sunday Live on May 3.
He referenced a private meeting that took place in Nairobi’s affluent Lavington suburb amid the impeachment turmoil.
“Remember our Lavington meeting at the time of impeachment? That’s what constitutes exerting pressure,” he said, in remarks that have since ricocheted across television panels, political WhatsApp groups and TikTok clips.
Ichung’wa accused Kang’ata of pursuing the deputy presidency with what he termed “the politics of hypocrisy”, adding pointedly: “I am still of the same view today.”
The accusation lands at a delicate moment. Kang’ata, once a loyal figure within the United Democratic Alliance (UDA) orbit, has declared he is severing ties with the party and will not defend his Murang’a gubernatorial seat on its ticket.
The announcement, delivered with the calm of a man burning a bridge behind him, has nonetheless triggered a political storm, unsettling alliances and raising questions about the durability of President William Ruto’s inner circle.
Ichung’wa’s critique went further, accusing the governor of using his name to curry favour with DCP leader Rigathi Gachagua.
“Desist from name-dropping my name to please Gachagua… Pay the ransom he demands if you desire to be his candidate,” he said, a line that has drawn both condemnation and intrigue for its blunt suggestion of transactional politics at the highest level.
Asked to reply to Ichung’wa’s remarks, Kang’ata said he would not wish to be drawn into bandying words with his friend.
Gov. Kang’ata Ditches UDA:
Murang’a Governor ditches the UDA party
Kang’ata says he will seek reelection on another party
Kang’ata says party has lost popularity in the region
Kang’ata: Leadership must be anchored on persuasion #CitizenSundayLive pic.twitter.com/BxunuyTvLq
— Citizen TV Kenya (@citizentvkenya) May 3, 2026
By stepping away from UDA, he positions himself as both an outsider and a contender—free to court new alliances while retaining influence in the vote-rich Mt Kenya region.
In recent public remarks and interviews, Kang’ata has signalled growing discomfort with what he describes as shrinking democratic space within party structures and the marginalisation of grassroots voices.
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He has hinted at frustrations over “top-down decision-making” and a perceived drift away from the consultative politics that initially defined UDA’s rise.
In one appearance, he suggested that “leadership must reflect the will of the people, not the dictates of a few individuals”, a line widely interpreted as a critique of the party’s inner circle.
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