Kimani Ichung’wah Criticises Irungu Kang’ata Over Exit From UDA Party

Nairobi – National Assembly Majority Leader Kimani Ichung’wah has strongly criticised Irungu Kang’ata after the Murang’a governor appeared to distance himself from the ruling United Democratic Alliance (UDA) ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The political exchange between the two leaders has now exposed growing tensions within President William Ruto’s Kenya Kwanza camp, with both politicians openly accusing each other of political dishonesty and hidden agendas.

The latest war of words began on Sunday, May 3, after Kang’ata claimed that Ichung’wah had been putting pressure on him to fully support President Ruto’s administration and political direction.

According to the Murang’a governor, there had been attempts to push him into aligning himself more closely with the Kenya Kwanza leadership despite his recent political decisions.

However, Ichung’wah quickly dismissed the allegations and accused Kang’ata of twisting facts for political survival. The Kikuyu MP maintained that he had only expressed his honest opinion regarding what he described as “hypocritical politics” by the Murang’a governor.

In a strongly worded statement, Ichung’wah revealed details of private political discussions he allegedly had with Kang’ata during the heated period surrounding the impeachment debates involving former deputy president Rigathi Gachagua.

According to Ichung’wah, one of the discussions took place at Kenneth Matiba Hospital, where he openly confronted Kang’ata over what he viewed as double standards in his political conduct.

The Majority Leader insisted that his comments were not meant to intimidate the governor but rather to call out behaviour he believed was dishonest.

Ichung’wah further claimed that Kang’ata had previously pushed aggressively to be considered for the deputy president position in the event Gachagua was removed from office. He alleged that the Murang’a governor actively sought support from influential leaders during that period.

The Majority Leader said he clearly told Kang’ata that he did not support his ambitions because he believed the governor’s political approach lacked consistency and honesty.

“I said what I said publicly because I saw hypocrisy in the way you were handling your political engagements. We know each other very well, and you remember the conversations we had in Lavington during the impeachment period. That is where real political pressure was being applied as you sought to become deputy president,” Ichung’wah stated.

The outspoken lawmaker also accused Kang’ata of attempting to use his name to gain favour from Gachagua and influence political calculations in Murang’a County ahead of the next election.

Ichung’wah warned the governor against dragging him into local succession politics, especially in relation to the Democracy for the Citizens Party (DCP), which is associated with Gachagua’s growing political movement.

He alleged that Kang’ata was trying to convince Gachagua to sideline other potential candidates by mentioning his name in political negotiations.

The Kikuyu MP further threatened to reveal more sensitive details about their past meetings if Kang’ata continued mentioning him publicly.

He claimed that some of the information discussed during their alleged Lavington meeting could damage the governor politically if made public.

Ichung’wah also hinted at alleged misuse of Murang’a County resources, although he did not provide further details. He warned Kang’ata to focus on defending his own political position instead of involving other leaders in what he described as deceptive politics.

“Stop using my name to gain political mileage or to impress Gachagua. If you want his support, then deal with him directly. Do not drag me into your battles.

I can reveal full details of our meetings and even explain what happened with Murang’a resources, but that would not be in your best interest,” Ichung’wah said.

The sharp exchange now highlights the growing cracks within leaders who were once seen as close allies in the Kenya Kwanza coalition.

Political observers believe the rivalry could intensify as leaders begin positioning themselves ahead of the 2027 General Election.

The public fallout between Ichung’wah and Kang’ata is also expected to fuel fresh political debates in the Mt Kenya region, where competition for influence and loyalty continues to shape future alliances.

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