Drama unfolded on Monday morning during a live broadcast of Citizen TV’s Daybreak show when two lawmakers from the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) engaged in a heated verbal exchange over claims of undue influence within the party.
The debate, which had initially proceeded smoothly with input from political panelists representing both the UDA and the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM), took a dramatic twist when Kiambu Woman Representative Gathoni Wamuchomba, a UDA member, made a striking allegation.
She claimed that UDA legislators often received phone calls from a senior figure who issued instructions on how they should vote in Parliament.
Wamuchomba likened the situation to what she described as a “political cage,” implying that politicians, including former Deputy President Rigathi Gachagua during his tenure in government, were controlled by external forces.
“He was trapped in that cage. It’s a political cage, and every other politician, including the ones sitting here today, will deny it on camera,” Wamuchomba stated. “But I can tell you that no vote happens in Parliament without them getting a call.
They are told, ‘Make sure you vote this way,’ by the Majority Leader, the Chief Whip, or even from State House,” she added, firmly.
Laikipia Woman Representative Jane Kagiri, another UDA MP, quickly countered Wamuchomba’s claims, dismissing them as misleading. Kagiri denied ever receiving any such directive and accused Wamuchomba of spreading falsehoods to tarnish the party’s image.
According to Kagiri, the only time she had received a phone call of significance was from Wamuchomba herself.
She claimed Wamuchomba had called her to dissuade her from pursuing a motion she had tabled in Parliament concerning the high cost of electricity.
“She told me that my motion might face censorship from the government,” Kagiri alleged. “If she wants to claim that leaders receive phone calls with directives, let her provide evidence. I have never received any such calls from State House or elsewhere dictating how I should vote.”
Kagiri went further to challenge Wamuchomba, stating, “I am glad she is here today. The only call I received was from her. If she insists on her allegations, let her provide printouts from the telco showing that I received such calls. Let her even produce CCTV footage from Parliament to back her claim.”
Wamuchomba, visibly agitated, quickly interjected, vehemently denying the accusation. “Hold on! I want to clear my name. Let her show evidence—a telco printout or CCTV footage—that I made such a call,” she fired back.
She further argued that Kagiri was being untruthful, pointing out that the Parliamentary Hansard records would prove that she had actually supported Kagiri’s motion to address the cost of electricity.
The tense exchange prompted the programme’s moderator, Sam Gituku, to intervene in an attempt to cool the escalating tempers. He urged both MPs to stick to factual statements rather than personal attacks.
However, Wamuchomba pressed on, reiterating her point that UDA lawmakers often received calls during key Parliamentary processes.
She cited past impeachment motions and even the controversial vote on the Finance Bill 2024 as examples of instances when MPs allegedly heeded external directives.
“Some MPs go out in public and claim they won’t participate in certain votes, only to turn against their own constituents once they step into Parliament,” Wamuchomba added, emphasizing her dissatisfaction with how decisions were being made in Parliament.
Despite Gituku’s best efforts to steer the discussion back to constructive debate, the clash between the two lawmakers highlighted deep divisions within the UDA party.
The accusations and counterclaims left viewers with more questions than answers regarding the alleged interference in the parliamentary voting process.
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