THREE DAYS TO ACT OR WE DUMP RUTO — WAMUCHOMBA

Githunguri MP Gathoni Wamuchomba has put her continued support for President William Ruto’s administration in doubt, giving authorities three days to act against two leaders she accuses of making inflammatory remarks.

Wamuchomba, speaking on Monday, August 31, said she would not seek re-election on a United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ticket, arguing that the party and the administration had betrayed the expectations of Kenyans who supported them.

Her latest remarks centred on nominated MP Joseph Wainaina and Health Cabinet Secretary Aden Duale, whom she wants arrested over remarks she says could fuel ethnic tensions.

The outspoken lawmaker accused the government of applying the law selectively, arguing that leaders considered close to the President appear to face a different standard of accountability from ordinary citizens.

Wamuchomba warned that failure to take action within three days could trigger a political backlash in the Mt Kenya region, including protests and the withdrawal of support by some leaders who previously backed Ruto.

She said she had supported Ruto believing that he would improve the country and that she had a responsibility to pray for, advise and stand by him. However, she suggested that continued support had instead been followed by growing frustration with the conduct of some members of his administration.

The MP's concerns are partly linked to separate controversies involving Wainaina and Duale.

Wainaina has faced criticism over remarks allegedly suggesting that Kikuyus opposed to Ruto should leave Uasin Gishu County. He has denied promoting ethnic hostility and maintained that his comments were taken out of context.

Duale, meanwhile, has been criticised over remarks that were interpreted by some as referring disparagingly to the Kikuyu community. The Health CS has defended his comments, saying they were based on a Somali proverb and were not directed at any particular community.

Wamuchomba wants authorities to establish whether the two leaders crossed the legal threshold for hate speech and take action if wrongdoing is established.

Her criticism, however, extends beyond the latest controversy.

The Githunguri MP has previously questioned several policies associated with the Ruto administration, including taxation and mandatory deductions from workers' earnings. She has also accused the government of responding harshly to critics and protesters while failing to deliver on some of the economic promises that helped propel UDA to power in 2022.

For farmers in her constituency, she has particularly pointed to the disappearance of the guaranteed minimum returns promised during the campaign period, questioning what became of the pledge for coffee and avocado farmers.

Wamuchomba's position places her among a growing number of politicians from Mt Kenya who have become increasingly critical of Ruto as the 2027 General Election approaches.

Although she remains formally affiliated with UDA, she has suggested that her continued membership is partly practical, arguing that leaving the party prematurely could affect development projects in her constituency.

She has also left the door open to working with other political formations, saying her priority is a political platform that reflects the interests of the people rather than simply serving the pursuit of power.

Her latest ultimatum therefore adds another layer to the shifting political alignments in Mt Kenya, where former allies of the President are increasingly reassessing their positions ahead of the 2027 contest.

For now, Wamuchomba remains a UDA member. But her declaration that she will not seek another term on the party's ticket, coupled with the three-day warning to the administration, signals that her relationship with the ruling party is becoming increasingly difficult to sustain.