By OLIVER MUSEMBI
Kiambu Governor Kimani Wamatangi has kept his supporters and the public guessing about his political future, even as he revealed that he intends to join the opposition in January next year.
Nearly six months after announcing his departure from President William Ruto’s United Democratic Alliance (UDA), the governor is yet to disclose the political party under which he will seek re-election in the August 2027 General Election.
Wamatangi says he has deliberately delayed making the announcement, arguing that he wants to concentrate on completing his development agenda before embarking on political campaigns.
“Every politician from this region is rushing to join opposition parties, not because that particular person is popular but because they hope to be carried by a party wave. I have decided to remain here until January, when I shall be winding up my work,” Wamatangi said while addressing meetings in Ruiru and Thika sub-counties.
However, the governor has declined to name the political outfit he intends to use in his bid for a second term, amid speculation that he could join former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua’s Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP) or the Jubilee Party, previously led by retired President Uhuru Kenyatta.
Wamatangi has, however, insisted that he will not return to a political outfit where he feels he was subjected to intimidation and political persecution.
“I will definitely join a good party and not where we have come from. I am sure you know we have a good political party, isn’t it? We cannot go back to where we have been tormented for political reasons,” he said during a meeting in Ruiru’s Biashara Ward.
The governor’s possible move to DCP could set the stage for an intense contest during the party’s nominations, particularly with businessman John Mwaura, who has been positioning himself as a potential gubernatorial candidate on the party’s ticket.
Mwaura has been actively building his political profile as he seeks to challenge for the Kiambu governor’s seat in the next General Election.
Another politician who has declared interest in the governorship is Thika Town MP Alice Ng’ang’a, who is expected to seek the seat on a UDA ticket.
It remains to be seen whether more aspirants will emerge in the coming months as political realignments gather momentum ahead of the August 2027 polls.
Wamatangi has also maintained that his political associates will not be intimidated into abandoning their political ambitions, recalling what he described as threats and harassment in the past.
“We cannot go back to where we have been terrorised. We have been threatened and intimidated, but we will not be cowed,” he declared, without disclosing the party he intends to join.
Meanwhile, political temperatures between the governor and Ng’ang’a have continued to rise, with the legislator taking every opportunity to criticise the county administration’s performance, particularly in the health sector.
Recently, the MP sparked controversy after accusing Wamatangi’s administration of presiding over a deterioration of services at Gatundu Level Five Hospital.
Among her claims was that the hospital’s mortuary had been invaded by rats, which she alleged were defacing bodies preserved at the facility.
The allegations were strongly dismissed by the hospital management, led by County Chief Officer for Health Dr Patrick Nyaga, who described them as politically motivated and intended to discredit the county government.
“There’s no way rodents can gain access to where bodies are preserved. This is merely cheap politics and baseless propaganda,” Dr Nyaga maintained.
Despite the political criticism, Wamatangi has continued to defend his administration’s development record, citing investments in education, healthcare, infrastructure and agriculture as evidence of his performance during his four years in office.
Among the projects he says his administration has undertaken is the construction of 545 Early Childhood Development Education (ECDE) centres, accompanied by a feeding programme aimed at improving school attendance and supporting learners from vulnerable households.
He has also cited the establishment of 32 new health facilities, the construction of 26 markets and the installation of 18,000 solar-powered streetlights across the county.
In the agricultural sector, the governor says his administration has supported more than one million farmers through the distribution of free farm inputs intended to boost productivity and improve household incomes.
The projects, according to the governor, form part of his development record as he prepares to seek a second term.
His leadership was also recognised internationally when he received the seventh Global Change Makers Award in Cairo, Egypt.
The award recognised his contribution to county governance, financial management and socio-economic empowerment.
However, with the 2027 elections drawing closer, Wamatangi’s next political move is likely to have significant implications for the unfolding political contest in Kiambu, where the governorship race is already attracting heavyweight aspirants.
His decision to delay naming his preferred party until January could therefore prolong uncertainty among supporters and political rivals as they position themselves for what is expected to be a competitive election.
