From critic to Ruto's fold: Wamuchomba's long political odyssey
Politics
By
George Njunge
| Mar 15, 2026
Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba rose rapidly to become one of the most popular figures in the Mt Kenya region. Her outspoken voice captured the deep frustrations of locals who felt betrayed by President William Ruto’s administration, accusing it of broken promises and displaying arrogance through its Cabinet Secretaries.
Famous for her sharp tongue, Wamuchomba shot into the national spotlight within a year of Kenya Kwanza’s ascent to power in 2022. She emerged as the sole, unrelenting critic of President Ruto in Mt Kenya, fearlessly accusing him of neglecting development in the region while favouring other areas.
Her bold stance resonated strongly with constituents, drawing the president’s ire.
In June 2023, Ruto—accompanied by then-Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua—attended a farmers’ day event hosted by Githunguri Dairy.
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Many saw the visit as an effort to rein in the defiant MP. To sideline her, the President endorsed her 2022 election rival, former Githunguri MP Kago wa Lydia, granting him access to government ministries to secure projects for the constituency. Wamuchomba cried foul, but she remained undeterred.
She branded herself a staunch defender of “Wanjiku”—the ordinary Kenyan—and framed her politics as a stand against elitism.
When tensions escalated between Ruto and Gachagua, Wamuchomba passionately defended the former deputy president.
She felt vindicated when Gachagua later aligned with her anti-government campaign, bringing several Mt Kenya leaders who had previously dismissed her views.
For a time, the alliance appeared to strengthen her position. However, the partnership unravelled quickly over disagreements about launching a new political party.
Wamuchomba drifted through at least three other political camps before returning to the very government she had once fiercely criticised.
Defending her shift, Wamuchomba stated: “As an elected MP, my duty is to ensure that my voters benefit from the government they elected.”
Critics argue her perceived arrogance and abrasive rhetoric threaten her 2027 re-election prospects.
Her combative style was evident in a recent television interview, where she declared she had not decided whether to seek re-election.
Wamuchomba’s three-year political journey reveals a leader constantly recalibrating alliances amid Mt Kenya’s volatile power dynamics and national shifts.
Initially, in 2023, she was among the loudest critics of Gachagua. Her rhetoric tapped into public frustration over internal Kenya Kwanza struggles.
That changed dramatically in 2024 amid Gachagua’s impeachment. Almost overnight, she aligned firmly with him.
She said she advised Gachagua to secure a party for a coalition, offering help since he faced registration hurdles post-impeachment.
Weeks later, she learned of a new party formed without her input. Before rejoining Ruto’s camp, she faced accusations of being a mole in Gachagua’s group, leaking information to the government.
Gachagua reportedly called her too dangerous to keep in the Opposition, dismissing her claims of coercion as excuses.
Kipipiri MP Wanjiku Muhia suggested Wamuchomba grew unhappy after her demands—for a major role in the Democratic Change Party and a direct ticket for Kiambu governor—were rejected.
By early 2025, she shifted toward former Interior CS Fred Matiang’i. She made high-profile visits to his Nairobi and Kisii homes, organiszed events, and joined his Kiambu tours.
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